Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate says in-form striker Afonso Alves can fire them clear of the dropzone.

Southgate said: "When we had Mark Viduka and Yakubu here they gave us a 'get-out-of-jail card'.

"We could lob a ball to them and they had a record of getting goals. Now we've been creating chances and not taking them.

"But Afonso's got three in the last two games. He's got a swagger in training and all players perform better when they're confident and in a good frame of mind."