Aitor Karanka sees bright future for Middlesbrough newboys Bamford and Gestede

29 January 2017 12:24

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has promised there is much more to come from new signings Patrick Bamford and Rudy Gestede.

Former Chelsea frontman Bamford and Aston Villa's Gestede have arrived at the Riverside Stadium this month for a combined total of £12million as Karanka attempts to re-shape his squad by adding more goals and creativity.

Both started Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup fourth round victory over League Two Accrington Stanley and turned in performances which pleased the Spaniard.

However, with 23-year-old Bamford having played little football since his hugely successful loan spell on Teesside during the 2014-15 campaign and Gestede, 28, spending his final few months at Villa playing a largely peripheral role, Karanka is confident both will improve with games.

Asked about their respective contributions against Accrington, he replied: "Very good, both of them.

"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 go 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."

Boro laboured for long periods to find a way past John Coleman's defensive unit and when they found it, it came from a man with a point to prove.

Stewart Downing, now 32, has found himself surplus to requirements in recent weeks and has been linked with a move away from his home-town club this month, but the 69th-minute piledriver which eased Boro into the fifth round draw was a timely reminder of his enduring quality.

Stanley midfielder Sean McConville headed inches wide as time ran down as the visitors pushed for a money-spinning replay, but Downing's strike sent home the locals among a crowd of 24,040 happy.

Karanka had been less than complimentary about the support his side received during last weekend's 3-1 Premier League defeat by West Ham and was not backing down at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

However, asked about the crowd on Saturday, he replied: "Good, good, like almost every single day. I can't say anything more about the crowd and nobody is going to put myself against the crowd."

Source: PA