THERE were two strands to Middlesbrough’s eye-catching recruitment work in the summer window - and it is helping to explain their express start to the Championship season.

On the one hand, Boro brought in some young and exciting European-born players, with David Strelec, Sverre Nypan and Sontje Hansen being chief among that number.

Hansen in particular has made some telling cameos from the bench already.

The Teessiders have also balanced things off with an air of pragmatism to bring in some seen-it-done-it senior Championship operators in the shape of Alfie Jones, Callum Brittain and, latterly, Matt Targett and Alan Browne.

Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards with Middlesbrough's Matt Targett after the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale, Preston. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire.

placeholder image — Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards with Middlesbrough's Matt Targett after the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale, Preston. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire.

Early days it may be, but the chemistry looks encouraging.

Boss Rob Edwards said: "That (senior) recruitment has been really important as well as it does help some of those younger boys and you need that because it’s a really tough, physical league and it can be a slog at times.

"To have people that you know can churn them out and understand what it takes is important as well. I think that’s really obvious.

"I was really pleased with the rounded plan on recruitment and we were able to get the vast majority of it done and over the line, so that was good."

Middlesbrough defender and former Barnsley player Callum Brittain celebrates Boro's second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match against Millwall last month. Photo: Flynn Duggan/PA Wire.

Early pacesetters Boro, who host a West Brom side who turned over another quick-starter in Stoke City at home in their last away fixture, will again be without central defender Dael Fry (calf), who could return next weekend. Darragh Lenihan is set for his first Riverside start in two years.

Meanwhile, Edwards says he is confident that winger Morgan Whittaker will receive positivity from home fans after expressing disappointment that some among Boro's sell-out contingent jeered him when he came off at Preston last weekend.

He added: "We’ve had a good conversation and I think he’s going to get a great response. We won’t talk about selection and what might or might not happen, but I think he’s in a great state of mind.

"We’ve got an amazing fanbase – 5,600 of them travelled a long way for a 12.30 kick-off and they were incredible. I know he’ll get a really good response, I know that.”