Tees

Former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison could not be more pleased with Boro's start to the season, as Rob Edwards side have maintained a 100% winning record in the Championship.

"The team have gelled, done really well, partnerships all over the pitch," Maddison told BBC Radio Tees.

Maddison, who is an academy ambassador at Middlesbrough, said expectations for the club have entirely shifted, with the outlook just a month ago looking bleak.

"It has been some turnaround because at the beginning of the season, you're looking [and there's] no signings, no manager. And then all of a sudden the manager comes in."

Former Luton Town boss Rob Edwards was appointed on 24 June having been sacked by the Hatters last season with the club struggling in the Championship after being relegated from the top flight.

Despite that, Maddison believes that Edwards' achievement of promotion with Luton - who had not played in the Premier League before - should never be diminished.

"To get them in the Premier League, from where they were, I think is an outstanding achievement," he said.

And Maddison said Edwards' managerial ability is being replicated at Middlesbrough.

"Watching a manager get a hold of this football club, not just the team, but the whole football club.

"He has persona, an aura about him that grabs you and gets hold of you and he sucks you in, but you have to do that by achieving things."

Middlesbrough went into the international break top of the Championship, with current English champions Liverpool the only side to match their 100% winning start to the season across England's top four leagues.

"I didn't expect us to be where we are right now and the start that we've had. We've had an unbelievable start - the system works, the players are fighting. You've got a team now that absolutely gives their all," Maddison said.

"The work rate and the quality, and each game they've got better and better and better, and long may it continue."

Listen to the full interview with Maddison and more Boro on Sounds.

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Middlesbrough's David Strelec scored and provided an assist as Slovakia beat Germany 2-0 in their World Cup qualifier in Bratislava on Thursday night.

The 24-year-old joined Boro for an undisclosed fee from Slovan Bratislava on transfer deadline day, signing a five-year contract.

The forward set up David Hancko for the opening goal when the pair exchanged passes three minutes before half-time.

Strelec then struck his eighth senior international goal when he curled a shot past Oliver Baumann in the 55th minute to hand Germany only the fourth defeat in World Cup qualification in their history.

Slovakia visit Luxembourg in their second Group A game on Sunday, 7 September.

Middlesbrough have got a "very, very good pro" in the form of deadline day signing Alan Browne, says BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes.

Browne, signed on a season-long loan from the Black Cats, made 23 Championship appearances last term after a decade as a stalwart in Preston's midfield.

Middlesbrough fans can expect Browne to be versatile and fit into a number eight or number six role, Barnes told BBC Radio Tees.

"He's strong, physical because he's big, tall, robust, likes to get forward, likes to get in and around the penalty area so is attack-minded," Barnes said.

Boro fans have been treated to a high-intensity pressing game under new head coach Rob Edwards' guidance this season, something Browne is comfortable with.

"That's his sort of game, even when he was sitting back a little bit deeper he still likes to get forward [and] likes to make runs through the middle," explained Barnes.

With Premier League newcomers Sunderland spending more than £160m on incomings this summer, the question of leaving was a matter of 'where', not 'if' for Browne.

"His family are settled in the north east, he's got young children," Barnes added. "He'd have been looking for somewhere not involving much travel.

"All in all, Middlesbrough have got a very, very good pro."

Listen to the full interview and more on Middlesbrough on BBC Sounds.

Middlesbrough's new striker David Strelec has everything it will take to succeed in the Championship, according to Slovakian football expert Lukas Vrablik.

The 24-year-old joined the Championship leaders on transfer deadline day from Slovan Bratislava for an undisclosed fee, signing a five-year contract.

"There has been a lot of talk about Strelec moving to Middlesbrough since the start of the year when they wanted him in January but the clubs didn't reach an agreement," Vrablik told BBC Radio Tees.

"He's the total package - he's a technical player with some clever movement and very good in combinations on counter-attacks."

Strelec arrives on Teesside having featured in the Champions League group stages for Slovan and also played in Italy for Spezia.

"He has what it takes to succeed - last time it didn't work out when he went abroad but he's a better player now and he's now a vital player for the international team so that proves it," added Vrablik.

"The Premier League would be a step too far for him right now but the Championship is fine for him and is a great league for a player from the Slovak league to move to.

"He's a hero of the city because Slovan Bratislava have had better results over the past few years, reaching the Champions League group phase, so he is one of the poster boys of that success as he graduated from the academy."

Strelec, who is set to feature for Slovakia in their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Luxembourg, could make his Middlesbrough debut at Preston North End on 13 September (12:30 BST).

Image source, Getty Images

Hibernian have signed Middlesbrough Daniel Barlaser on a season-long loan deal, with head coach David Gray confident the 28-year-old will bring "calm" to his midfield.

Barlaser has extensive experience in English football, playing over 250 games, predominantly with Boro and Rotherham United.

He is the seventh summer arrival at Easter Road, following record signing Thibault Klidje, Miguel Chaiwa, Raphael Sallinger, Jamie McGrath, Josh Mulligan and Grant Hanley.

"We're delighted to add someone of Daniel's experience to the middle of our midfield," Gray said.

"We wanted to add another versatile midfielder to the squad, and Daniel has proved that he is capable of playing that role at a very high, competitive level.

"He has good positional awareness, reads the game well, and is calm in possession of the ball. We are looking forward to working with him for the rest of the season."