Boro's man mountain of a centre half has got Fabio Capello thinking...
Few defenders have enjoyed as meteoric a rise as the one experienced by this powerful centre-back.
Wheater was one of a number of players to be handed a first-team chance by former boss Steve McClaren and, after making his debut during the club’s run to the 2006 UEFA Cup final, the Redcar-born defender has established himself as one of the brightest young stars in the Premier League.
With a habit of scoring crucial goals, Wheater’s form during 2007-08 helped fill the gap left by Jonathan Woodgate in the Boro defence and he finished the season by forcing his way into Fabio Capello’s England plans.