Mowbray wipes slate clean with former charges getting even chance

New Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray insists he will have no problem working with Stephen McManus, Scott McDonald and Barry Robson despite selling them when in charge of Celtic.

Mowbray sold McDonald and Robson to Boro during the January transfer window, while McManus joined on loan before a permanent switch to the Riverside Stadium in the summer.

With predecessor Gordon Strachan also returning to Scotland to sign Kevin Thomson and Kris Boyd from Rangers during the close-season, Boro were installed as favourites to win the npower Championship title and return to the Barclays Premier League at the second attempt.

However, Strachan quit with the club 20th in the table and have since slipped to third bottom.

Mowbray has stressed the whole squad will start with a clean slate and he is convinced McManus, McDonald, Robson, Boyd and Thomson can cut it at Championship level despite not pulling up any trees as yet.

He said: ""They will all get the same opportunities. The guy who has played one game for Middlesbrough, a young guy coming through, the seasoned professionals, it all starts level."