AITOR KARANKA has refused to get carried away by Middlesbrough’s rise in to the Championship’s automatic promotion places in November, but thinks his players have every reason to believe they can seal a return to the Premier League.

Boro crushed Norwich City 4-0 at the Riverside Stadium after two goals from Grant Leadbitter and a second for the club from Yanic Wildschut built on Patrick Bamford’s fifth minute opener.

The three points lifted Middesbrough up to level on points with leaders Bournemouth, who will arrive on Teesside this Saturday knowing only a better goal difference keeps Karanka’s men from occupying top spot.

The Middlesbrough boss, who was not overly impressed with his team’s first half display despite securing a two-nil advantage, has seen his team defeat all three of the teams which dropped out of the top-flight last season after earlier season triumphs over Cardiff City and Fulham.

Karanka, whose side also cruised to a 3-0 win at Rotherham last Saturday, said: “I’m very pleased with the result, especially the second half performance. At Rotherham it was very difficult and this was an important game against a team who were last season in the Premier League.

“We have beaten all the teams who were in the Premier League last season. It’s important for us but it doesn’t mean anything. We have to think about the future and the future is Saturday against Bournemouth. It’s nice to be where we are but I would like to be in this position in May.”

Taking the cautious approach will be a crucial part of his managerial style in the weeks ahead, having started the campaign in a manner which has got Teesside’s football fraternity seriously believing a return to the Premier League could be on the cards at the sixth attempt.

Karanka is approaching his first year anniversary in charge and he is in no doubt about the transformation that has taken place. He is confident he has the players to stay in the mix for a top two spot.

“Last season we did not have the same quantity or quality,” said Karanka. “Now we have very good players and a very good squad and all of them believe that the most important things is the team.

“We don’t have anyone above the team; not the manger, the striker, the keeper, the chairman or the fans ... it is about the team. Everyone is a team.

“We have another international break after the Bournemouth game and we will have time to rest. If we look at the table a year ago we had 16 points, now we have 30 points, so I am very happy and pleased.

“But I want to keep our feet on the ground. I said in one of my first press conferences this season that this would be very tight because most of the teams are very similar. That has shown true. We are in November and we have to keep fighting and working in the same way.”

Even though Bamford had turned in Albert Adomah’s cross early on, Middlesbrough struggled to find top gear and Norwich could have levelled. Then George Friend earned a penalty 12 minutes before the break – which Canaries boss Neil Adams disputed but did not feel affected the outcome - and Leadbitter converted.

Leadbitter added a third, his ninth of the season, with a lovely header 21 minutes before the end and substitute Wildschut followed up a starring role at Rotherham by adding the fourth late on.

“We didn't play the tempo I wanted before half-time but after we had a chat the intensity was different and we played very well,” said Karanka. "I told the players at half-time that our biggest mistake could be thinking we were playing really well.”

Adomah, who missed the trip to Rotherham through illness, had to be replaced within minutes of the second half restarting so will be a further doubt for this Saturday’s visit of Bournemouth.