Aitor Karanka: Beware Middlesbrough’s new boys

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has warned their Premier League rivals that it will not be long before new signings Patrick Bamford and Rudy Gestede are firing on all cylinders.

Former Aston Villa man Gestede and Chelsea’s Bamford have both arrived at the Riverside Stadium during January for a combined fee of £12million, and Karanka is certain he will soon start to see a return on that investment.

Both players started Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley, where Stewart Downing scored the only goal of the game.

Bamford in particular has played very little first team football since his loan spell at Boro, while Gestede fell out of favour in his final months at Villa Park.

But Karanka was thrilled with their respective contributions at the weekend.

“Very good, both of them were,” he said.

“It’s been good for both of them because it’s important for them to have minutes.

“Patrick, for example; I’m sure that he’s a really good player, but he needs games because the Patrick Bamford of three years ago and two years ago would have scored two or three goals.

“He needs to be more confident. He knows how much I trust him, and Rudy the same.

“He’s been with us for two weeks, three weeks, and he is improving, he is fighting a lot, so I am really, really pleased with both of them.”