Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray has revealed that he hopes to tie Andrew Halliday down to a new deal soon.
The 21-year-old defender's current contract at the Riverside Stadium is due to expire at the end of the season.
"Hopefully something will be resolved in time," Mowbray told the Evening Gazette.
"Recently, I was having discussions with his advisers about potential loan moves.
"I have put one or two of those off over the last few weeks because I have been sensing that we are a bit short defensively, and ultimately George [Friend] broke down and Andrew's chance arrived for him."
Halliday has featured in five of Boro's last seven matches in all competitions.
