6:40am Thursday 7th February 2008
By Simon Parker
Young keeper Sam Filler has become the second City starlet to be snapped up by a Premier League club.
Filler, 18, has joined Middlesbrough in an undisclosed deal similar to the one that saw 14-year-old midfielder Andre Wisdom leave for Liverpool.
He has spent trial periods this season with Boro and Newcastle.
City will receive an upfront payment with further amounts tied in to his future progress.
Joint-chairman Julian Rhodes said: "Keith Lamb (Boro chief executive) sent us an offer in October and Newcastle also expressed a very strong interest. But Middlesbrough recently came back in for him and doubled their original offer.
"This is another feather in the cap for our youth department."
First-year apprentice Filler has been sharing the youth-team goalkeeping duties with Matthew Convey, who City privately feel is the better goalkeeper. Convey played for the reserves against Port Vale on Tuesday.
Youth-team coach Jon Pepper said: "I think we're getting a reputation with the bigger clubs that we have decent players right through the levels. It's not surprising that Premiership scouts come and view what we have to offer.
"It's a great opportunity for these lads and we are getting rewarded for it.
"It's unfortunate the Bradford public haven't really seen them play but sometimes when Premiership clubs come in I don't think we're really in a position to stop them going unless they're in our first team."
Stuart McCall is hoping to have Eddie Johnson back in the ranks at training today.
The unlucky midfielder was stretchered off at Wrexham recently in his first game back from a two-month injury absence.
Johnson needed seven stitches in a shin wound, which were taken out on Monday.
McCall said: "Unfortunately Eddie had a bit of an infection with the stitches and was on antibiotics over the weekend.
"It's still a bit red and puffy but looking better and hopefully the strong antibiotics will clear it. We're looking at hopefully doing some work with him today and tomorrow and then possibly he will be in contention for the Bury game."
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