MIDDLESBROUGH winger Albert Adomah has agreed a new contract that will keep him at the Riverside until the summer of 2017.

Boro officials initiated a round of contract discussions in the summer, following increased interest in Adomah from a number of Premier League and Championship clubs.

The 26-year-old only moved to Teesside from Bristol City in August 2013, but he ended his maiden season as the club’s leading goalscorer and rapidly emerged as a key component of Aitor Karanka’s plans.

The Boro head coach was quick to spell out his desire to retain Adomah, but a swift resolution to this summer’s talks proved impossible to secure as a couple of minor issues remained unresolved.

Earlier this season, Adomah admitted he had found this summer’s speculation unsettling, but further talks have resulted in a new deal being agreed.

The winger is now contracted for the next two-and-a-half seasons, meaning there should be no distractions when the transfer reopens at the start of January.

Confirmation of Adomah’s new deal follows hot on the heels of a similar development with Adam Reach, and underlines Karanka’s determination to hold on to his key players ahead of an anticipated promotion battle in the second half of the season.

The Spaniard has previously asserted that no one will be leaving during the January transfer window without his agreement, and yesterday’s news suggests he has the strong support of chairman Steve Gibson and chief executive Neil Bausor as he attempts to tie down and retain his leading assets.

Boro officials are also involved in talks with Grant Leadbitter and his representatives as they attempt to agree a similar extension with the midfielder, who is due to become a free agent at the end of the season.

Leadbitter has been the subject of a succession of bids from Nottingham Forest in the last 18 months, and there is a desire to rule out similar approaches, which could potentially prove unsettling, at the turn of the year.

Karanka must also decide whether to offer a new deal to goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos, who only signed a one-year contract at the start of the season but who has subsequently established himself as Boro’s number one shot-stopper.

Meanwhile, goals from Emmanuel Ledesma and Ryan Brobbel earned Middlesbrough’s development side a 2-1 win over Hartlepool United yesterday afternoon.

Ledesma unlocked a Pools defence containing former Boro skipper Matthew Bates on the stroke of half-time, drilling home after a slick one-two with Brobbel.

Brobbel recently completed a loan spell at Hartlepool, and the winger doubled his side’s lead midway through the second half after more slick approach play involving Ledesma.

Tom Mitchinson pulled a goal back for Pools with ten minutes left, but Boro’s second string held on to claim a third successive victory in the Final Third Development League Cup.

“The scoreline suggests it was a close game, but in reality we dominated possession and dominated the chances,” said reserves boss Paul Jenkins. “We’ve won three out of three now (in the League Cup) with one more game to play, so I think a point will definitely see us through to the semi-finals.”