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Any decision on whether to hand captain Jonathan Woodgate a new Boro contract for next season will wait until the summer, says Aitor Karanka.

The 35-year-old former England international dazzled in the heart of Boro’s defence against Ipswich and Derby, despite having been on the treatment table for most of this campaign.

Karanka persuaded Woodgate against retiring from football only five months ago - but his latest emergence has raised hopes that he could lead Boro next season, should they clinch promotion to the Premier League

But that is something that will not even be considered until the final ball is kicked on May 2, according to Boro’s boss.

“I’ve been speaking with (Woodgate) for a year-and-a-half, every single day,” Karanka said.

“Both of us know the best thing is to manage it day-by-day, because we can forget that five months ago he was thinking about retiring.

“We need to finish this season and then Woody can do whatever he wants, because for me he’s an amazing player and an amazing man.

(Image: Action Images)

“Woody played at Real Madrid and it wasn’t a coincidence, it’s because he’s intelligent.

“I think he feels it’s difficult for him to stay for one more year, but I can’t say anything today because maybe he plays the next eight games and is important for us in the promotion race, and is fit for next season.

“I was joking with him that he has the head of a 15-year-old kid but his body is 150 years.

“Woody is Middlesbrough. He’s a legend, more than a legend because he is showing everybody - especially in the last two or three games - that he lives for this club and is the perfect person to work here.”

With Ryan Fredericks (hamstring) on the treatment table, Boro will leave it until the last possible moment to assess both Woodgate and Daniel Ayala ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Bournemouth.

(Image: Action Images)

Last weekend, Ayala sustained a recurrence of the thigh injury that has hampered him since Blackpool - and the Spaniard remains a doubt for Boro’s trip to Dorset.

Equally, Tuesday’s win at Derby was only Woodgate’s second league start of the season, and Karanka admits he’ll wait until the eleventh hour to decide if his skipper is fit enough to feature against the Cherries.

“I don’t know because it would be his third game and I don’t know if he’s ready to play three games in a row, but let’s see tomorrow,” Karanka said.

“He’s a good player for us. I said after the (Derby) game how important he is for the team, but I can’t and don’t want to take any risks.

“He’s perfect now. He’s supporting the team when he’s not playing, and he’s supporting the team when he is playing really well on the pitch.”