Middlesborough: Played for Both Clubs: David Wheater

David Wheater is under contract at Bolton Wanderers until the end of this season, it is an inevitable tough decision we have to make about whether we extend his stay. It's all resting on his performances when he gets fit again. Currently side lined, we are all itching to see him back on the pitch to add more options to a robust defensive set up. He's also 1.96 meters tall, huge.

Wheater was born on Valentine’s Day 1987, he shares his birthday with the likes of Edinson Cavani (Also 1987), Angel Di Maria (1988), Simon Pegg (1970) and former Mayor of New York and full time fool Michael Bloomberg (73 B.C.).  He was raised in Redcar and began his career at the Riverside. He rose through the ranks of the youth side and played alongside Adam Johnson. During his time in the youth side he won the FA Youth Cup in 2004, the same year Middlesbrough beat Bolton in the League Cup final. The first FA Cup youth final was in the same year as the Stanley Matthews Final, 1953.

His first loan spell was at Wolves in September 2006, where he played once for the first team. After 3 months, he was returned to Middlesbrough. He was then sent out to Doncaster in their Football League trophy winning season, where he played 7 times and scored once against Gillingham. In 2013, Wheater was almost loaned out to Doncaster again as part of his injury recovery program. He was also was sent to Darlington in League Two to score 2 in 15, helping improve the form of a financially wobbled Quakers outfit in 2007. He was then recalled to cover for an injured player and played in the premier league and scored in the final day of the season, beating Fulham 3-1.

Wheater then became a first team player in the 2007/08 season under Gareth Southgate. After an injury to Woodgate, Wheater seized his opportunity to play regular first team football. He was an FA Cup hero, clinching the winner against Bristol to avoid an embarrassing defeat. The following month he signed a contract extension of three and a half years. He even shot a bizarre advert for half season tickets in which he said he tears through the likes of Steven Gerrard ad Ronaldo and that he’s saved you a seat (he knows you want to, too). Wheater picked up the North East Football Writer’s Association Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards. He was a fan favourite, too, he even got a Facebook page dedicated to his chin. The admin of this page claims that Wheater can open a large jar of Hellman's mayonnaise with the dimple in his jawline.

He had a short spell in the England side but never made his debut. Wheater failed to make Fabio Capello’s 23 in Match 2008 after being called up to the squad. He was stuck on the bench in October against France and Trinidad and Tobago.

He proposed to his wife on the top of the Empire State Building, after leaving the queue for the Statue of Liberty and not finding a good spot in Central Park in 2008, too. They got married after Wheater signed for Bolton.

In the 2008/09 season, Boro were relegated. As a result, in the 2009/10 season, Wheater was appointed captain at age 22. His first game with the armband was a defeat against Bristol City. When Gordon Strachan came to the club, Wheater lost the armband and was replaced by the more experienced Gary O’Neil.

His last goal for the club came against Leeds and his last game was against Bristol City. He played 140 times for Boro. He signed for Bolton in January of 2011 for an undisclosed fee (believed to be £2.5 million). He signed on a three and a half year deal with a two year extension being agreed last year. He’s out of contract in 2016.