MIDDLESBROUGH teenager Brad Halliday would be open to the idea of rejoining York City on loan next season.

The Redcar-born wing-back, who scored his first senior goal during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Portsmouth, will return to his parent club this week.

But Halliday is yet to feature in the Riverside outfit’s first team and the possibility of a second stint with the Minstermen could depend on whether he is being lined up to make that breakthrough by manager Aitor Karanka or will continue to feature for the club’s development side.

The 19-year-old defender said: “I’d definitely consider coming back to York next season. I need to obviously see what Boro feel and what their plans are for me and whether I’m going to be involved in the first team or stay with the under-21s.

“I signed a new two-year contract there in January so we’ll see what happens over the summer.”

If Halliday has bid farewell to City for good, though, he reckons he is departing with multiple benefits. “Being at York City has been a great experience for me,” he reasoned. “I’ve made friendships with the lads and working under the gaffer has been great.

“I think he’s been the key to my success at the club and the fans have played a big part too. They’ve got behind me and helped me, which is always better than if they get on top of you because that makes things harder.

"Football wise, it’s been great to play in League Two and get used to the physicality of the game. I’ve got a lot to take back to Middlesbrough and I’ll see what happens from there.”

Halliday confessed, meanwhile, that his first career goal left him a little shocked and without a rehearsed celebration.

On his memory of the maiden strike and his reaction to it, he added: “I was surprised when the ball came to me.

“It was a bit lucky but I saw it spinning towards me, so I took a touch and knocked it around their player. He then slipped and I just drilled it across the goal.

“I didn’t really know what to do to be honest when I scored. I tried running one way and then realised the fans were at the other end.

“So I just thought I would run over to them.”

He was pleased, however, that his two main Minstermen mentors during his 24-game spell at Bootham Crescent led the charge to share in his delight.

“Keith (Lowe) and Russ (Penn) were first to congratulate me,”

he said. “They’ve both taught me a lot in the time I’ve been here.

“I’ve also been living with Keith while I’ve been in York and he’s been a good role model for me.”

Halliday went on to express his pleasure at ending the campaign on a positive note after Saturday’s late equaliser at a Fratton Park stadium that was thronging with more than 17,000 supporters.

“It was a good way to sign off for the season,” he declared. “It was quite hard at times because they are a good passing side and they were disciplined.

“At times, we also gave the ball away cheaply and were sloppy, but I thought we dug in and it was a fair result in the end.”

Halliday is now preparing to cheer Boro on in their play-off push for Premier League football, having already arranged Wembley accommodation for the final.

“I’m going to both the home and away legs and, hopefully, the club can get to the final because I’ve already booked my hotel anyway if they get there,” he revealed. “I’m looking forward to getting that out of the way, hopefully becoming a Premier League side and enjoying the summer.”