AITOR KARANKA always felt Fernando Amorebieta would help to keep Middlesbrough in the promotion race for the Premier League – and the experienced defender is showing why.

Amorebieta, re-signed on a season long loan from Fulham in August, has been a crucial factor in recent outings after being asked to replace Ben Gibson at the heart of the defence alongside Daniel Ayala.

The 30-year-old’s performances - particularly against Leeds United last Sunday – have shown Boro are in safe hands at the back when the tried and trusted Gibson-Ayala combination is broken up.

“I am not delighted with Fernando because I expected that (level of) performance from him,” said Karanka. “Fernando played in the Premier League, played for his national team, played Europa League finals, played I don't know how many games in Spain in La Liga, so I didn't have any doubts about him.

“He has experience, he has quality. It is difficult to find players like him, a good defender, a left-footer, left-back, and for me it's a pleasure.

“I met him when he was 18, 19-years-old so I've known him really, really well. I knew since the first moment when he arrived here he would settle into the changing room really well. Now everybody is looking at him on the pitch and seeing what a good player he is.”

The Venezuelan, who graduated from the Athletic Bilbao academy, will be determined to stay in the Middlesbrough side, even though Gibson appears to be over his hamstring problems.

Karanka said: “That’s football. Gibbo was amazing in my first season, amazing last season and good, very good this season. But Fernando has started to play and is doing very well, so now I have to manage Fernando. The main thing for me is to keep them always alert, to be ready to play and to take their chance.”

The challenge facing Amorebieta, Gibson or anyone else in the team at Reading, is extending a winning run to eight today. Karanka knows the run will have to come to an end at some point, but he is not ready for that outcome.

“You can't think about the ninth (game) if you haven't won the eighth so now we have seven, we want eight but Reading are a good side and it will be a difficult game,” he said.

“I told the players before the last game, last season we lost games at the end of the season and I told them the way we are going now, the more points we can get now, the less points we need at the end if we are fighting for promotion or the play-offs. We have to take advantage in our situation but knowing we are going to draw or lose one day.”