Friend keen to make impact
New Middlesbrough signing George Friend has revealed that he is excited about turning out for his new club, saying that it is a step up from Doncaster Rovers.
Friend joined the club back in July so has had plenty of time to get used to his surroundings and has been impressed with the quality in the squad. Now, with the first weekend upon us, he wants to start showing the Middlesbrough fans what he can do.
Speaking about life at the Riverside so far, he said: “The style of play is different, but it's better.
We've got some really good players here, who can help my game and I'm enjoying it. It's a positive change.”
“The first impact of that was when we played Hartlepool away and saw all the Middlesbrough fans that had travelled for the friendly.”
“They were making a lot of noise, and drowned out the Hartlepool home crowd.”
“I knew Middlesbrough was a big club with big expectations, that was what I wanted to be part of. That's why I joined.”
As for Middlesbrough as a whole, they will be hoping to launch a promotion bid this time around.
Football betting pundits know how competitive it is going to be though, so a good start is very important for Tony Mowbray’s men.
Speaking of Mowbray, he is in good spirits ahead of the trip to Barnsley this weekend, saying that although it will be tough, a place in the top two is the team’s aim.
He said: “Our target’s got to be automatic promotion before a ball is kicked. “Is the squad strong enough? I would have to say I don’t think the squad is stronger than the teams that got relegated.”
“And yet we have a different balance to the squad this year. If we can replicate our away form and win more games at home, then we won’t be far away.”
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In terms of the team news for tomorrow, Lukas Jutkiewicz is out with a knee injury, while Mustapha Carayol should play. Friend should also start his first competitive match for Boro.
