Steele made 13 league appearances for Northampton on loan last term

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan has said he is happy with his goalkeeper options after handing 19-year-old Jason Steele his first Championship start.

The 19-year-old kept his first clean sheet for the side as Boro drew 0-0 at Leicester City.

The decision to play Steele came amid speculation that Brad Jones is in talks with Liverpool.

Strachan told BBC Radio Tees: "We've got two good goalkeepers if Brad does go so that's not bad."

He added: "Hopefully it's the start of a great career for the lad."

The County Durham-born player had earlier made his Middlesbrough debut in the Carling Cup against Chesterfield on Wednesday, a tie which Strachan's side won 2-1.

But the Boro boss admitted picking Steele ahead of 36-year-old Danny Coyne had been a tough decision.

"It was a huge dilemma," Strachan said.

"It's incredible having to deal with good pros and bad for me when you're leaving real good professionals and good lads out. It was a really hard decision."

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