Middlesbrough v Stoke City Preview

In his first press-conference as a Premier League manager Aitor Karanka did a pretty good job of keeping his emotions in check.

The whole of Middlesbrough is buzzing ahead of the new campaign, so much so that their season opener at home to Stoke was sold out almost immediately.

It’s been seven long years since a Boro side last kicked a ball in the top flight but at last Karanka, who arrived back in 2013, believes that the club are back where they belong.

“The club hasn’t changed a lot, when I arrived I said this was a Premier League club,” he said in Boro’s new and upgraded press room.

“The main aim is to stay in the Premier League and build the foundations that we need. Unlike last year one mistake can be really important in the Premier League, one mistake and we will have problems.”

Karanka has shown throughout his tenure at the Riverside that he can be an expressive manager, and his passion may reveal itself when he returns to the dugout tomorrow afternoon.

As demonstrated last season that can be a positive thing, and in the end it was Karanka’s motivational methods which ultimately nudged Boro over the line. Even so, there is always the possibility that too many sentiments can cause a drastic backlash, and it’s still unclear what exactly happened when Karanka missed the away trip to Charlton back in March.

That seems a distance memory now, however, and here the Boro boss spoke about the excitement around the town - even if he seemed fully focused on the job at hand.

He also referred to a successful pre-season, in which Boro have made nine new signings before a ball has even been kicked.

Their early activity in the transfer market means that Boro have enjoyed plenty of time to work with their new arrivals, many of whom should make their debuts tomorrow.

Team News

Middlesbrough will be without the centre back pairing of Daniel Ayala and Bernardo Espinosa, who have ankle and knee injuries respectively.

Captain Grant Leadbitter is also out following a hernia surgery, as is left back James Husband who dislocated his shoulder in pre-season.

Joe Allen is in line to make his debut for Stoke, though Glen Johnson is doubtful with a thigh problem while Stephen Ireland and Ibrahim Afellay have both sustained long term injuries.

The Opposition 

The unfair belief that Stoke are still just a long ball side who score most of their goals from set-plays is frankly complete rubbish.

In fact, the Potters scored just six goals from dead-ball situations last campaign which was less than any other side in the top flight.

Manager Mark Hughes deserves huge credit for the job he has done since he took the role back in the summer of 2013, not only has he changed a style of play (which many snubbed at) and found the players to fit his preferred system- he has also stabilised Stoke as potent top flight outfit.

Stoke have recently attracted the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Bojan from some of Europe’s elite clubs, while in January midfielder Giannelli Imbula became their record signing when he arrived from Porto for £18.3 million.

Last season the Potters finished ninth with 51 points, though they did end up with a goal difference of -14 due to the fact that they lacked a regular goal scorer.

One To Watch

Xherdan Shaquiri

At 24 the Swiss playmaker has already represented the likes of Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, while he has also registered 57 caps for his country.

He is unpredictable and dangerous in the attacking third so could be a potential match winner if Boro don’t watch him closely.

Last Time Out – 21/3/2009

Stoke City 1 Middlesbrough 0

Ryan Shawcross scored an 84^th minute winner when the two relegation-threatened side met at the Britannia Stadium back in 2009.

The result moved the Potters out of the bottom three and they went on to stay up in their first season back in the Premier League.

Garth Southgate’s Boro remained 19^th and couldn’t avoid the drop that year.

Team I Would Play

(Picture from Gazette Boro)

Boro's starting eleven looked like it was taking shape in their final pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad on Saturday so I don't think they'll be too many changes.

Albert Adomah came on for Viktor Fischer at half time and looked a threat so I'd go with the Ghanaian on the wing. Apart from that it should be the same team which started a weeks ago.