Southgate believes Egyptian Shawky will play a much bigger role for Boro
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate says Egypt international Mohamed Shawky will play a much bigger role at the Teesside club next season.
The Egypt midfielder, who was recommended by striker Mido, joined Boro from Egyptian champions Al-Ahly on transfer deadline day last summer in a £650,000 deal.
Boro manager Gareth Southgate hoping for more from Mohamed Shawky
But like Mido he struggled with injuries, starting just three league and one League Cup game, with two more appearances from the bench.
But Boro boss Southgate is hoping for a more influential role for a player capped 42 times by the African Cup of Nations champions.
Southgate said: "We hope he'll play a big part next season. In the games that he's played away from home he's done very, very well, but it's just been very frustrating.
"It took him a while to adapt to the speed of training and then when he had got into the side he had to go to the Africa Cup of Nations.
"Unfortunately he's had a couple of knocks since he came back but we feel he can play a bigger role next season."
