As the new Championship campaign has begun, there are once again hopes and expectations around Middlesbrough in their aim to return to the Premier League.
Middlesbrough appointed Rob Edwards in the place of Michael Carrick, in the hopes he can bring the club back to the English top flight.
The Riverside has not witnessed Premier League football since their relegation in 2017.
Middlesbrough will hope that Edwards can bring together the squad and inspire them to the top flight like he did with Luton Town.
However, the club may soon be without Hayden Hackney, while another player subject to interest is Rav van den Berg from clubs in Europe.
Rob Edwards after Middlesbrough v Deportivo de La Coruna - Pre-season Friendly
Photo by Trevor Wilkinson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
While this pair have enjoyed their recent careers at Middlesbrough, one man is looking to put his ‘nightmare’ behind him.
Morgan Whittaker is ready to push on at Middlesbrough
Ahead of the new Championship season, Morgan Whittaker was talking about his previous six months at Middlesbrough with Teesside Live after being a marquee signing in January.
The forward struggled to produce the levels he had previously demonstrated at Plymouth Argyle; however, he is determined to put that behind him now.
He said: “It was a difficult six months. But I know I have to deal with these situations and not necessarily listen to the outside noise. Dealing with the end of last season and last season as a whole was difficult, but I’ve used the summer to work hard.
Morgan Whittaker during Middlesbrough FC v Sunderland AFC - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
“When I first came in it was difficult. The situation I came into was different from Plymouth. But now I’ve settled, had a good summer and want to carry on into the season. When I first came in, it was difficult. The situation I came into was different from Plymouth.
“A lot of that has come from me, just believing in myself and not letting outside noise affect me. I had a good summer off, worked hard and changed how I looked at certain things. And Rob coming in has been a big help as well. He’s given me the freedom to play how I want to play and to be ourselves.”
Rob Edwards wants fans to ‘dream’ this season
The new manager of Middlesbrough understands there will be expectations on the club to be battling for the play-offs again this campaign, and he is looking to encourage those ambitions.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of their Championship opener against Swansea City, he looked to inspire fans who will be supporting the club this season.
He said: “At a club like this there should be hope and there should be expectation.
“We’ve got to put that pressure on ourselves because it’s a big football club. I want our supporters to be able to dream. I certainly won’t discourage that. I just want them to have a bit of realism as well.
“This club has been in and around the top end of the table for the last few seasons, and I certainly don’t want us dropping away from that. I want us to be competing at that top end, and I believe we can be. But I also know it’s a really challenging league with a lot of teams that will fancy themselves to be up there.”