Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is thrilled with the form of Jeremie Aliadiere.

He told the Evening Gazette: "I think Jeremie has been our best player over the last few weeks in an attacking sense. He has been a real threat. His commitment and the way he works for the team is outstanding as well and I'm really chuffed for him that he is scoring goals.

"I think that will give him a huge lift and I think he is a terrific player. The way he has played unselfishly for everybody with his pace and his movement has caused teams a lot of problems. What he is now doing is finishing his chances, I think you can see his confidence growing as he is doing that.

"He has got the winner for us in our last two home games. He finished his chance that he got at Newcastle that would have won us the game but for the fact he was slightly offside. He finished that with an air of confidence and he is growing all the time. "He looks stronger and some of our 19 and 20-year-olds are in the same position that Jeremie is really.

"They have not had that full season of football. Even though he is 24 he is growing in strength for having this first full season."