Fleetwood Town poised to sign Middlesbrough defender Sam Stubbs

The 21-year-old Everton youth product has followed a season at Wigan Athletic with two on Teesside.

Virtually all of his senior football has been played on loan and Stubbs has made 22 League Two appearances in stints with Crewe Alexandrea and Notts County.

He also had a spell with AFC Fylde in the National League early in 2018.

Last season Stubbs – son of the former Bolton Wanderers, Everton and Celtic defender Alan – played 19 times for Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership, then ended the campaign with Den Haag in the Dutch Eredivisie before lockdown.

His one appearance for Wigan was in an EFL Cup win over Blackpool and he played three times for Boro’s Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

He has featured in pre-season for Neil Warnock’s side and was given a squad number for the coming campaign.

His arrival at Highbury gives manager Joey Barton a welcome extra body at the back.

Youthful academy graduates James Hill and Harrison Holgate have played at the heart of Fleetwood’s defence in both cup games to date, though the club have this week welcomed back Liverpool loanee Morgan Boyes after international duty with Wales Under-21s.

Fleetwood’s Carabao Cup second-round tie at home to Port Vale will take place next Tuesday, September 15, with a 7pm kick-off.

Supporters can watch the tie live online for £10 via iFollow, available from the club website.