Aitor Karanka has told his Middlesbrough players to take their Championship playoff push one game at a time.

The Smoggies moved up to second place in the table after winning five of their six games heading into the international break.

With club football due to resume this weekend, Karanka wants his side to simply focus on getting the job done against Fulham in the first of four league games over the next fortnight.

"We are not speaking about ifs," he told the club's official website. "We have Fulham and the we have to think about what's next. I prefer to work and do what we have to do to win against Fulham, than think 'if'.

"We have the following game at Cardiff then we are at Wolves. If we think about what might happen before it does or doesn't it happen it becomes difficult."

Boro trail leaders Brighton & Hove Albion by two points at the summit.