DAVID WHEATER says captaining Boro is an honour beyond even his wildest boyhood dreams - and he'd love to keep the armband on a permanent basis.

The young defender knows there are other strong candidates for the role to come back into the side - including regular skipper Emanuel Pogatetz.

But after stepping into the breach left by the departure of central defensive partner Robert Huth to Stoke City, Wheater will be delighted if he retains the job.

"It's a boyhood dream even just to play for Middlesbrough and to be captain is amazing for me and for my family as well," he said.

"The Gaffer asked me the night before the game if I could get my Mam and Dad up and I said no, they're not coming.

"He said they were thinking of making me captain and I said I'd love to.

"When you're young you go to the games and think about playing for Boro but you don't imagine captaining the side and I've done it now, so I'm very happy."

As for keeping the job on a permanent basis, Wheater said: "I'd love to, but there's Poggy and Riggs to come back, they are more experienced than me."

Redcar rock Wheater's promotion revived the comparisons with Boro legend Tony Mowbray, born just up the road in Saltburn.

"I hope I can be as successful as him and as popular with the fans with him and play like him as well," he said. "Hopefully it will come in future years."

Wheater found himself with a new partner in Jonathan Grounds for Saturday's defeat at Bristol City, after Huth joined Stoke for a fee of £5m which could rise to £6m.

"The transfer came out of the blue and the first I knew about it was when I heard it on Sky Sports News at the training ground," he revealed.

"It's a shock when things happen like that but you have to get on with it.

"He will be missed. I need to develop a partnership with someone else now, whoever that may be."

Huth's departure coincided with Boro losing their proud record of not conceding a league goal since the start of the season.

But Wheater had a positive messages for fans concerned about the team's first defeat of the season.

"Keep believing, because we are playing good football and scoring goals, we just need to start defending properly again," he said.

"The good thing is we've got the break to get it out of our system. We'll get back to training and hopefully push on in the league as well."