Head coach Aitor Karanka has revealed that he has been impressed with Alvaro Negredo's recent performances for Middlesbrough.

Last month, Karanka said that the striker needed to work harder in order to regain his place in the team, but ahead of Negredo's return to Manchester City on Saturday, Karanka has acknowledged that he has seen improvements in the on-loan Valencia player.

The 43-year-old told reporters: "It is a big game for Alvaro to go back to City. But for me, the best thing is to see how hard he is working for the team.

"When Stewart Downing scored last weekend, he pointed to Alvaro to show the crowd the part he had to play in the goal."

Negredo has failed to score since opening his Middlesbrough account on the first day of the season.