Alvaro Negredo’s career has stalled since he left Manchester City two years ago, but Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka believes he can get him back to being one of the world’s best.

The Spanish striker scored just 17 goals in 84 matches for Valencia after leaving City, and joined newly-promoted Boro this summer.

The 31-year-old has got off to a fast start on Teeside, with a goal against Stoke on his Boro debut, and he has played a big part in their impressive start to the campaign.

And Karanka insists he has instilled confidence into Negredo and expects him to continue his fast start and score the goals which keep Middlesbrough up.

“It is only natural his confidence was a bit down after last season. If he had played at his proper level last season, we would have had to pay £30-35m to sign him,” he said.

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“I knew I could change his head and bring the best out of him. I am pleased with the way he has played and I’m confident about the future.

“He is pleased to come because he knows he is going to score goals.

“But he knows it is different this season because he is used to games where he has lots of opportunities to arrive in the box.”

Sean Dyche obviously rates Jeff Hendrick as a player, with Burnley breaking their record transfer to bring the midfielder in from Derby.

But the Burnley boss admits he has also been impressed with him off the pitch, insisting his quirkiness will help him hit the ground running at Turf Moor.

After starring with Ireland at Euro 2016, Hendrick sealed a £10.5million move to the Clarets and the Premier League.

And despite being a new arrival Dyche has revealed how Hendrick’s character has helped him make an immediate impact.

“It does take time for players to adapt to a new environment, he’s been at Derby since he was a kid,” Dyche said. “He’s been so used to that club but I think he’s enjoying it.

“He looks like he has a smile, wants to be part of it. We managed to get him a bit of time last week.

“It’s well-documented, the culture here. It’s quite clearly obvious there’s a good mindset here. He’s adapted to that very quickly.

“I like his character, I think the players like his character. He’s got a bit of a quirk to him and there’s a good bit of belief in him but there’s also that humbleness to stay part of the group and make sure that the team is stronger than the individuals.

“I don’t think he’s stereotypical of a footballer. He’s got a different streak in there.

Stoke City have had a dismal start to the new Premier League season, but Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew insists they are not in any danger of going down.

The Potters opened the campaign with a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough but back-to-back home drubbings by Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, as well an away defeat at Everton, has left them bottom of the table.

Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2008 Stoke have only been in one relegation fight, which cost then manager Tony Pulis his job in 2013.

But Pardew insists current boss Mark Hughes has nothing to fear, and insists his talented squad will dig them out of trouble.

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“They will be absolutely fine. They have a great squad and a great manager,” said Pardew.

“They’ve had a very difficult start with fixtures and that’s one of the main reasons why they’re bottom of the league, not because they’re a poor team.

“They have other attacking players who are just as dangerous as (Wilfried) Bony including (Marko) Arnautovic, Bojan, (Mame Biram) Diouf and (Jonathan) Walters who you can put into that list – they have a real strike force there.

“I think they’ve started ok, but they have had some tough games. Mark Hughes is a great manager and what he’s done there to change the style is there for all to see.”

Joe Ledley insists Crystal Palace are going places and that you only need to look at their newest recruits to see exactly that.

Ledley arrived at Crystal Palace after being snapped up for a cut-price deal by then Eagles boss Tony Pulis back in 2014.

But since then the club have gone from strength to strength and this summer broke their record transfer signing to bring in striker Christian Benteke from Liverpool – something which Ledley believes shows that the Eagles have not stopped soaring just yet.

“He is a fantastic signing. That’s what you need to do as a club – go on to that next level,” Ledley said.

“Signing players like Christian and [Loic] Remy on loan, it shows how much this club has gone forward.

“The gaffer wants to change things up and hopefully we can see it happening. It always takes time, no matter where you are as a player or as a club.”

Ledley enjoyed a summer to remember as he was part of the Wales squad that reached the semi-final of Euro 2016, losing out to eventual winners Portugal.

But his involvement was up in the air after breaking his leg against Stoke in May, with the midfielder indebted to physio Sean Connelly for getting him fit in time after he was forced to sit out Crystal Palace’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United.

“You don’t want to miss any game as a footballer but I’ve been lucky enough to have played in the FA Cup final before,” said Ledley, who was part of the Cardiff side defeated by Portsmouth in 2008 FA Cup final.

“When you do miss one of the biggest competitions in English football you’re obviously gutted.

“It was way too early for me to get fit for that. I knew the next thing was to get fit for the Euros.

“Thankfully Sean [Connelly], the physio at Palace and with Wales, helped me dearly.

“I’ve worked with Sean since I was young at Cardiff. He knows my body pretty well. I trust him with what he wanted me to do. We worked very hard together. It was a lot of long days – but it had to be done. Determination and staying positive made me come through in the end.”

Watford boss Walter Mazzarri may be new to England but the Italian insists his home country can learn a thing or two from the Premier League.

The 54-year-old had only ever managed in Serie A prior to his move to Vicarage Road, including stints at Napoli and Inter Milan.

Mazzarri has an up and down start to Premier League life, with defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal bookended by a draw with Southampton and an impressive victory at West Ham.

The Italian has had a number of infamous bust-ups, including with Premier League rivals Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

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But the Watford boss, known to be a combustible character, likes the respect shown between coaches in England and is adamant it has made him change his ways,

He said: “In Italy sometimes, there are moments in the career of each coach, especially with new and young coaches who say one or two things that should not be said.

“I like the mentality here in the UK. Coaches in Italy should be more like that. Win or lose, you shake the opposition’s hand.

“Of course, experience up until now has told me this is the correct way to act and even if I was in Italy now that’s how I would act, like in the UK.”

Mousa Dembele admits he has never received support like that of the Spurs fans and was surprised by his welcome after returning from a six-match ban.

The Belgian international missed the final two games of last season and the first four of this campaign after he appeared to gouge the eye of Diego Costa in the heated clash with Chelsea in May.

The hugely-influential midfielder returned at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night in the Champions League when he came on as a half-time substitute against Monaco and he couldn’t believe the reception he received.

“It’s been a few months where I haven’t played for Tottenham so I’m delighted to be back,” said the 29-year-old.

“I’ve trained hard here but of course it’s never the same, you want to play games, you want to be involved so it’s not easy but I’m happy now and against Monaco I was happy that the fans really supported me and sung my name.

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“That was amazing for me. I was very surprised, the whole stadium singing my name like that. I’ve never had it like that before. Last year as well, the fans sung my name a lot and I’m very proud of that and very happy.

“I’ve watched a lot games in the last few months and, of course, I’ve been doing a lot of training, more than normal I think, but it’s been good for me to make a similar kind of effort to what people do in a game.

“It’s just been like normal with my team-mates in training and at home as well with my family. For me it was okay, I’m very happy I’m back and we’ll work hard together now.”

Adam Clayton insists Middlesbrough have cracked the transition to life in the Premier League and admits the team are now even more desperate to ensure they are still in the top tier come next season.

Boro have largely made a positive start to the campaign – remaining unbeaten through their first three league games before a narrow defeat to Crystal Palace.

Clayton has played a starring role as Middlesbrough have proved they can more than hold their own with the big boys of English football.

(Photo credit: LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)

And the midfielder claims that not letting their focus slip, even for a moment, is crucial for Boro to avoid relegation this term.

“I think we’ve acquitted ourselves very well – the results have been very positive,” said Clayton. “We’ve been away from home and looked after ourselves.

“Teams have the quality to put in a goal against you at any time. Concentration over 95 minutes is imperative, you’ve got to stay on top of it as a collective, if one switches off it could lead to a goal.

“As a team, we want to make sure we’re in the league next year. When all the fixtures are coming out next year, we want the Arsenals and Chelseas still in our league.”

West Bromwich Albion starlet Sam Field believes he’s now up to speed in the Premier League – with boss Tony Pulis showing no hesitation throwing him into the deep end this season.

The midfielder – a life-long Baggies fan – only turned 18 in May but has now made two Premier League appearances after receiving the full 90 minutes at Bournemouth.

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And though he is noticeably a more diminutive presence on the pitch than many of his counterparts, Field insists age will not be a barrier following a confidence-boosting dream start to the campaign.

“It’s been unreal, the last six months have just been ridiculous,” said Field. “Last season I was starting playing the Under 18s, so to go from that to make my Premier League debut is unbelievable. I didn’t expect to be starting or playing at this point in the season.

“The speed of the game and the physicality is a massive step up from youth football but if you want to make a career it’s something you have to do.

“I’m starting to get used to it now, especially the Bournemouth game which was my first 90 minutes. It’s been a really good learning experience and I feel I can use that in the future.”

Daniel Amartey has said he loves learning from central midfield partner Danny Drinkwater at Premier League champions Leicester City.

With the influential N’Golo Kante moving to Chelsea in the summer, Amartey has found himself alongside the England international with big shoes to fill.

The versatile midfielder struggled to find a starting spot in the Leicester City team in his first few months since joining the club last January but has had plenty of game-time already this season.

And the Ghanaian, who started Leicester’s first Champions League game in midweek where they beat Club Brugge 3-0, said he has been very happy since his move from FC Copenhagen.

(Photo credit: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

He said: “I enjoy football. Playing with Danny Drinkwater is great. He’s a good player and I saw him play so well last season. Now that I’ve been playing with him I’m happy and I’m learning so much from him.

“I’m very happy to be at Leicester City and in the Champions League. I’m young and I have a lot of games to keep working and doing better.

“Leicester City is a very good club and when I first came to Leicester City I was so shy because my English was not so good, but the players helped me a lot.

“We are together. If I need anything, I tell them and they help me. I am very happy.”

Bournemouth’s Adam Smith believes he is still getting up to full match fitness despite featuring in the first four of his club’s Premier League games so far this term.

Smith was forced off through injury against Manchester City in April but returned with a goal against Manchester United in this season’s opening game.

His side lost their opening two games in the Premier League, against Manchester United and West Ham, before a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The south coast club then picked up their first three points of the new league season with a 1-0 home victory against West Brom last weekend.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

And after such a long period out, the 25-year-old full back, who joined the Cherries from Tottenham in 2014, believes it will take him time to feel 100 per cent on the pitch once again.

“I think probably another game and I’ll be up to speed,” said Smith.

“I haven’t been completely match fit but I feel like I’ve been performing quite well.

“It’s been nice from a personal point of view to get a goal and it was a nice feeling for me and my family.”