Buoyant Karanka happy with Boro form

Aitor Karanka believes his Middlesbrough side are ready to hit the ground running this season as they prepare for their Premier League return against Stoke City next week.

The North East side have one friendly left before they host the Potters, with La Liga outfit Real Sociedad due at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Boro drew 0-0 with Italian side Udinese yesterday after a 3-1 win away at Aston Villa earlier this week, and Karanka is happy with their progress ahead of the Stoke clash – which will be swiftly followed by a derby against Sunderland.

“I am pleased with the way we have played in the last two games, at least in part, and I’m looking for further improvement on Saturday,” he said.

Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images

“I thought we played well in the second half against Villa and stepped up against Udinese on Wednesday, certainly in the first half.

“Now we have one more and then we work again on the training ground.”

Bernardo Espinosa and Daniel Ayala won’t face Sociedad and are in danger of missing the Premier League opener next week, but Marten de Roon should get a chance to impress.

De Roon signed from Atalanta this summer and injury has hampered his pre-season, but Karanka is adamant he is raring to go.

“Marten took a kick on his hip at Villa. It’s nothing serious. He probably could have played against Udinese but we didn’t want to take a chance,” he said.