Middlesbrough fans saw a new face turn up at the Riverside last week, though it remains doubtful whether this latest arrival will ever make it into the first team.
Indeed, the RSPCA confirmed that a grey seal pup washed up on the bank of the River Tees outside Boro's stadium at some point between last Monday's home fixture against Leicester City and Sunday's FA Cup tie with Sheffield Wednesday.
RSPCA rescue seal pup outside Middlesbrough's Riverside stadium https://t.co/91qGTH1YN4 pic.twitter.com/wTY51AJUL2
- ITV News Tyne Tees (@itvtynetees) January 10, 2017
RSPCA inspector Nick Jones was the man called to the scene after the seal -- which was later dubbed "Little Chris" -- was discovered,
The young pup had slid his way up a bank which was littered with wire - it was a rather strange place to find a seal," said Jones.