Aitor Karanka reveals the Middlesbrough player who surprised him against Birmingham City and why he's proud of Dael Fry

Boro came from behind to beat the Blues 4-1 at St Andrew’s after goals from Britt Assombalonga, George Saville and a second-half brace from Lewis Wing.

Karanka won promotion from the Championship with Boro in 2016 and is impressed with the work Neil Warnock is doing at the Riverside.

When asked by the Mail what he thinks of this season’s Boro side, Karanka said: “Very good, I like them a lot.

“I know really well most of them but someone who surprised me a lot today is Britt. Britt has been amazing.

“One player who I am really pleased that he is performing as well as he is doing is Dael Fry. He had his first game with me when he was 17 and I’m really proud of him and really pleased when I see him on the pitch.”

The win over Birmingham moved Boro up to sixth in the Championship after 20 league games.

Following back-to-back defeats at Stoke and Preston, the Teessiders have now won three consecutive games, scoring eight goals in the process.

When asked if he thinks Boro can maintain their promising start to the season, Karanka replied: “Yes because they have an experienced manager and very good players who know what they are doing.

“They are strong, they are aggressive, they are quick and experienced so I think they can do it.”

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