LOYAL DAVID BOOSTS BORO

Wheater is a target for Villa boss Martin O’Neill, with Birmingham, Stoke and Bolton also monitoring the England Under-21 defender.

But with the Teessiders set to offload Stewart Downing and Tuncay Sanli to balance the books after relegation, he is ready to turn down Villa to help Boro’s bid to bounce straight back into the top flight.

Wheater, 22, progressing well after knee surgery in May, said: “I’m certain I’ll be ready for the first match against Sheffield United on August 7.

“We just have to concentrate on trying to go straight back up again and if we keep as many players as we can we have a great chance.”