Australian goalkeeper Brad Jones is determined to become Middlesbrough’s starting goalkeeper, as he has been ever since he joined the Teessiders 7 years ago as an 18 year old talent.  All this time he has been competing to replace fellow countryman Mark Schwarzer as the starting keeper and even tried hard proving himself during loans spells with Stockport, Rotherham, Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday. Now it is rumored that Schwarzer will not renew his contract which expires at the end of this season.

“There’s been speculation about Mark but that happens all the time, he’s had that for five or six years,” said Jones. “My long-term ambition is to be Middlesbrough’s first-choice keeper, it’s getting to be a very long-term ambition but as long as I get there I’m not really bothered. Even when I went out on loan I was always determined to come back. I went out to get games, to prove myself. I just have to make sure I do my job when called on.”  

Jones also recognizes that playing with the reserves and mimicking the first team style of play is extremely important. “They want us (the reserves) to play the way the first team plays,” he said. “The whole point of the reserves is for people to come in and play the way the first team does, and prove they can do it. Gareth Southgate comes to all the games, the boys know that and it is encouraging. He watches very carefully, and notices everything, so you have to be on your toes. He’s there for a reason, to see how we perform.”

Brad is also stand in for Schwarzer on the Aussie National Team: "Mark has taught me a lot. It's a shame we are vying for the same spot," he said. "For the moment I will be patient, as he is on top of his game. I will keep pushing Mark until I can get where I want to be."