Boro striker Negredo confident goal drought will end soon

Middlesbrough striker Alvaro Negredo insists his performances on the pitch can do the talking as he looks to repay the faith shown in him by boss Aitor Karanka.

Negredo, on loan at the Riverside from Spanish side Valencia, has failed to find the back of the net since the opening day of the season against Stoke City.

Since then, he has gone 11 games without a goal, but Boro boss Karanka was quick to praise the 31-year-old’s efforts during Sunday’s narrow defeat to Chelsea.

And his recent drought in front of goal has done little to knock Negredo’s confidence, insisting it won’t be long until he finally breaks his duck.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“It’s always positive for a manager to talk about you that way and give you that support,” Negredo said.

“From a selfish point of view a striker always feels better after scoring goals – it raises your confidence and everything goes with it.

“But for the team it is not just about that. The manager has a plan and we try our best to carry out that plan.

“I have always put trust in my own ability. Now I have a team behind me who want to help me and believe in that too.

“I’m determined to do well, not just on a personal level, but also for Boro and for the fans.”