Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has predicted that defender Antonio Barragan will emerge as a key player for the newly-promoted club.

Barragan spent five years at Valencia before moving to the Riverside Stadium during the summer, and after playing in an unfamiliar role of centre-back against Stoke City last weekend, Karanka has been full of praise for his compatriot.

The Spaniard told reporters: "He's going to be a really important player for the team. He's showed that in the first game that he played in that position, which is not his position, and he was one of the best players.

"I'm really pleased for him because he deserved it and for the crowd and the people who maybe had a few doubts about him."

Barragan made one appearance for Liverpool before returning to Spain with Deportivo La Coruna.