Centre-back Jack Daley is spending the season on loan at Gillingham

Gareth Ainsworth is predicting a bright future for Middlesbrough defender Jack Daley, even if he's currently needing to be patient at Gillingham.

Daley joined Ainsworth's Gillingham on loan this summer after an impressive summer which included catching the eye during a start at Celtic in a pre-season friendly.

It came 12 months after Boro signed the centre-back from non-league side Newcastle Blue Star, with the defender impressing in Boro's U21 side last season and even attracting interest from Premier League clubs.

But before sending Daley to the League Two side for some senior experience, Boro tied the bright prospect to a new deal, and are hoping he can use the campaign to play regularly in the fourth tier.

As yet, Daley's only starts have come in the EFL Trophy, but he's regularly came off the bench in league games.

Ainsworth spoke last week about his need for patience, but also his belief in the bright future Daley has ahead of him.

Ainsworth said: “I'll be the first one to get stick if I stick Jack Daley in and we don't win because everyone will say, 'Why did you change the team?’ That's football, and that's management.

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“Jack's been very patient, and he's a good player, very good player, and he's going to have a hell of a career.

“We're lucky to have him from Middlesbrough as he’s a Championship standard player but at the moment I think I've got some defenders in there playing out their skin and why would you tinker with that?

“Jack's really highly rated. I think Premier League teams have been looking at him, putting million pound bids in at times, or rumoured to be.

“To have someone like that in the team, he's brilliant. But he'll learn. He'll learn about League Two football, which, believe me, it's a different sport to the Premier League.”