Source: Team_Talk
Boyd bound to star for Boro - Naismith
Steven Naismith has backed Kris Boyd to be just as prolific a goalscorer at Middlesbrough as he was at Rangers.[LNB] The pair played together at Kilmarnock, before sealing their respective moves to the Scottish champions, and fellow forward Naismith knows better than most what his old team-mate has to offer.[LNB]He watched as Boyd finished top goalscorer every season for Rangers, before writing his name into the history books when he replaced Henrik Larsson as the SPL's all-time top goalscorer.[LNB]And, having taken Scottish football by storm, Naismith is confident his skills will transfer to the npower Championship after signing a two-year deal at the Riverside.[LNB]He said: "I think he will score goals wherever he plays and he has shown that throughout his career so far - starting off at Kilmarnock, coming to Rangers and then on the international scene.[LNB]"It's another challenge for him and I'm sure he will score many goals for Middlesbrough.[LNB]"He has been in Scotland a long time, with Kilmarnock and Rangers, and it's probably just a different challenge for him."[LNB]Boyd's decision to quit Rangers and join Middlesbrough is likely to have raised a few eyebrows within the Ibrox faithful, having previously been courted by Birmingham and also linked with Wigan and Newcastle.[LNB]But Naismith pointed out that opting to join forces with former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan does not necessarily mean England's top flight was not an option.[LNB]He said: "I think Boydy had a lot of offers so it would be wrong of me to sit here and say he didn't get a move there because he wasn't good enough.[LNB]"He might have got a few offers from the Premiership. But I think he has looked at the full picture and decided the best move for him and his family was Middlesbrough.[LNB]"I don't know if it's a step up, a step down or whatever. It's more a different challenge, it's another league for him to play in.[LNB]"I'm sure if he does well at Middlesbrough, there is a chance he could be playing in one of the best leagues in the world. And that will be his motivation for people who are saying it's not a step up for him."[LNB]With Boyd's departure confirmed, Naismith hopes he can be one of the players to fill the void at Rangers.[LNB]"It's a big opportunity for everybody who plays up front at the club, definitely," he said.[LNB]"Boydy is a hard guy to follow, with his scoring record.[LNB]"But we've got guys here who can score goals and they have proved that so I'm sure we will do all right."
