Middlesbrough defender George Friend has suggested that some of his teammates failed to pull their weight during the club's slide back into the Championship.

The Smoggies' relegation was confirmed with defeat at Chelsea earlier this week, returning to the second tier of English football after less than 12 months.

Friend has questioned the desire of certain players in the Boro dressing room, admitting that he has been left "disappointed" by what he has seen.

"I've been disappointed with a few things in the dressing room this season," he told Sky Sports News. "I don't really want to say more than that but there have been a few issues and it's very disappointing. I think players who know what it means to play for this club can help it achieve great things like we've done in the past.

"Perhaps people's heads got turned, I'm not going to speak for others. Everyone's individual career is different and it's important to look after yourself but at the same time if you're paid by a club, you play for that club.

"You train every day if you're fit and if you're selected you play on the weekend. For me, that's the way it goes. I think if you get that throughout the whole dressing room you will get success."

Boro have two more games left to play this season, starting with Saturday's visit of Southampton to the Riverside Stadium.