BORO'S Jason Steele and Josh Walker are with the England  U20 World Cup squad, but Joe Bennett has been told he's needed back on Teesside.

Goalkeeper Steele and midfielder Walker have been allowed to join up with the 21-man party for a training camp in Cyprus ahead of what's billed as FIFA's second most important tournament after the senior World Cup.

However, Gareth Southgate has decided that Bennett, who recently signed a new, three-year, Boro contract, is required at home for his club's promotion challenge.

"We haven't got many players and we are loathe to let Josh and Jason go, but we felt we might need Joe, given the balance of the squad," said the manager.

"We want to help when players are called up but we're not really carrying the numbers to let too many go.

"We had to decide which of the three players would be most likely to be involved here."

Walker, who is recalled after being part of the England U19 team that qualified for the finals earlier this year, has hardly figured in the Boro first team picture this season with just one unused sub appearance to his name.

Highly-rated goalkeeper Steele dropped from the Boro bench on Saturday to make way for the fit again Brad Jones.

He was part of the England U19 squad that reached the European Championships final in the summer.

Brian Eastick's men begin their World Cup campaign against Uruguay on September 26, with Ghana and Uzbekistan also in their group.