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A six-year servant of the north-east based club, George Friend has featured in over 200 competitive games for Middlesbrough but fans have had enough and want the defender to retire.

Friend arrived at the Riverside Stadium from Doncaster Rovers back in 2012 and only once featured in fewer than 30 league games in a season for the Boro, but his recent performances have Smoggies fans hot under the collar.

Part of the issue for the 31-year-old has been an ever-changing role in Tony Pulis’ side, featuring at left-back, centre-back and holding midfield across 15 league games so far.

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Another side to his game that is creating issues is his tackling, with WhoScored averaging that more than half of Friend’s tackles as resulting in a foul.

The own goal at the weekend that opened the scoring for Derby, and would have been the winner had it not been for an 84th minute own goal by the Rams, was the latest nail in the coffin of the player’s career as far as these fans consider.