Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka wants a massive game from Alvaro Negredo today against Sunderland.

Negredo, signed by promoted Boro on a season's loan from Valencia, scored in the 1-1 home draw with Stoke on the opening day of the campaign.

Karanka said: “I hope Alvaro can do for us what Defoe did for Sunderland last season.

"I was conscious he played well at Man City.

"When you do that, you show you can cope with pressure, you have qualities.

"So Alvaro has everything – it is just he needs to work on his confidence."