Tony Pulis reveals why Martin Braithwaite is now keen to stay at Middlesbrough

The attacker had been heavily linked with a move away from the Riverside Stadium in the final week of the transfer window, and even told Pulis that he wanted to seal an exit.

But no move materialised and now, having returned from international duty, Braithwaite has pledged his future to the club.

And Pulis says that a January exit is unlikely after the striker told the Boro boss that he wanted to steer away from any more transfer speculation and focus solely on his football.

Braithwaite is also thought to have been impressed with some of the club's summer signings and is now keen to prove his worth on Teesside.

Speaking ahead of this afternoon's trip to Norwich City, Pulis said: “Martin wants to get his head down now and just stay with the club, he doesn’t want to contemplate doing anything in the window, he just wants to have a full season playing football and enjoying his football.

“That was Martin’s words, you can quote me on that one, that he wanted to ‘get his head down now and stay at this football club for the season’, he didn’t want speculation in the January window of him moving.

“He doesn’t want this situation to happen again and I can understand that.

“I think he’s looked at what we’ve done with the players we’ve brought in and I think that he’s excited about one or two of the players that have come in to the football club.”

The striker was on the bench for the visit to Leeds United in Boro's last outing, but will be keen to reclaim his starting place at Carrow Road this afternoon.

And when he does, the Dane will be eager to build upon a fine start to the season which has seen him net three times already having forced his way back into Pulis' plans.

Braithwaite was shipped out on loan to Toulouse last season, just a month after Pulis arrived, but the Middlesbrough boss now views the 27-year-old as a key player.