Middlesbrough defender George Friend has claimed that he always believed that the North-East side would secure promotion to the Premier League this season.

Aitor Karanka's men secured the point that they required in a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday as they responded to the disappointment of suffering defeat in last year's Championship playoff final.

Middlesbrough closed the season with four successive draws, but Friend has insisted that he was confident that the club would make sure of their return to the top flight after a seven-year absence.

The 28-year-old told Sky Sports News: "It's massive for the town and the whole of Teeside. It's a fantastically supported club and everyone deserves it here.

"I wasn't really in any doubt this year. Of course, it was touch and go, and close heading into the last game but there was a feeling that we were always going to do it.

"If you compare it to last year, we got to the playoff final but did we really deserve to go up? Probably not. This year was our year and I am glad we took that chance."

Middlesbrough finished four points adrift of champions Burnley in the table.