Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has warned his new summer signings that they are not guaranteed a first-team spot.

Stewart Downing and Christian Stuani are among those to have joined last season's beaten playoff finalists.

Karanka has also admitted that he is in the market for a new striker, adding further options to what is already a talent-packed squad.

"I will be able to keep them happy because all of them want to win promotion here, and all of them know my decision will be about what is the best thing for the team," he is quoted as saying by Gazette Live.

"The aim for everybody is to get promotion at the end, they have to understand that. When the players come here, the first thing that I tell them is that I don't guarantee anybody that they will play.

"They are coming here because they want to get promotion and help the team to do that. The aim for everybody is to get promotion, and they know it is going to be difficult for them to play. They know from the beginning that I don't promise anybody that they are going to play in the next game, I can't do that."

Boro kicked off their league campaign with an underwhelming goalless draw against Preston North End.

Written by
Daniel Lewis