CRAIG HIGNETT, the one-time Middlesbrough assistant manager, is backing his former club to win promotion tomorrow.

Boro face Brighton at the Riverside, and will be celebrating moving up to the Premier League if they avoid defeat against the team in third place.

Defeat would see the Seagulls overtake Boro and consign the Teessiders to the play-offs for the second season in a row.

But Hignett, who spent time working under Aitor Karanka from March to December 2014, said: “I think for Steve Gibson and all connected with the club, the fans especially, I really hope they make it. The money Steve has pumped into the club and the way the fans travel to see the team, it’s massive for them.

“I think they should be up by now to be honest, as they have a great squad of players, but it’s a tough league the Championship – it’s relentless.

“But the table doesn’t lie at the end of the season and Boro have been consistently one of the best in the league, so I hope for their sakes they go up.

“It’s a great way to end the season for them – if someone said at the start of the season you would have a home game against the team in third place to get promoted then you would take it.

“And I fancy them to win the game, I think they will get a result. They deserve it and hopefully it’s a reward for all the lads there.’’

Hignett played for Boro in the top-flight and was an integral part of their promotion to the Premier League in both 1995 and 1998.

He added: “The club has been out of the Premier League for too long now and it will change massively given the money clubs get next season.

“I don’t want to see them in the play-offs again, I went to Wembley last year to watch the game and, after the good season they had it was devastating.

“I think the play-offs last year means they know what to expect if they end up in there, but it’s tough. There’s Derby coming back into form now and getting players back now, it would be tough – but I can’t see that happening and I think they will get a result on Saturday.’’