sentences:  Prior to the 2007–08 season, the club had considered releasing him, but decided to give him his first professional contract, of one year.With regular left backs Andrew Taylor and Emanuel Pogatetz injured, Grounds made his first-team debut on 12 January 2008 in a 1–1 Premier League draw at home to Liverpool.After impressing both as captain of Middlesbrough's reserve team and in further appearances for the first team, he was rewarded with a new two-year contract in March.