91Èȱ¬

Manager Tony Mowbray is confident Middlesbrough can retain Chelsea's Josh McEachran for the rest of the season.

The 19-year-old midfielder joined the Teessiders on a season-long loan in August and has made 23 appearances.

"I've had conversations with some of the Chelsea hierarchy and they're 99.9% sure he won't be recalled in January," Mowbray told 91Èȱ¬ Tees.

"Unless they have a catastrophe with injuries, I think Josh will be staying with us until the end of the season."

McEachran, who had a stint with Premier League side Swansea City last season, has made 22 outings for his parent club.

Meanwhile, Boro booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a convincing 4-1 win against non-league side Hastings United, to seal a home tie with Aldershot Town.

Nottingham Forest loanee Ishmael Miller, 23, was among the scorers - his sixth goal in 19 games - but missed a penalty on a mixed afternoon at the Riverside.

"He's got to tighten his game up a little bit and yet he got his goal," Mowbray said.

"He seems to score every time he comes on the pitch.

"He had a few other opportunities, a very similar opportunity to his headed goal last week when he put it over the top rather than glancing it in.

"He did OK, and yet there are parts of his game to tighten up but he knows that."