WEST HAM UNITED’S settling in problems at the London Stadium does not guarantee a return to winning ways for Middlesbrough, according to Aitor Karanka.

The Boro boss is well aware of the frustrations being felt by the Hammers since their summer switch from Upton Park and the Teessiders will pay a first visit there this afternoon.

It is an exciting prospect for the Middlesbrough supporters making the trip to the stage where the Olympics were held in 2012, although there is also a need for an improvement in form after a run of three consecutive defeats.

West Ham have lost their last two Premier League home games against Southampton and Watford and only managed to edge past Accrington in the EFL Cup.

Karanka, who had never visited Upton Park either, said: “It's better to focus on the players, their performances, their strengths and weaknesses. The atmosphere is going to be different but for most of us it's going to be the first time.

“Every single game is amazing for me. After almost three years here to play in the Olympic Stadium is amazing, to play at Goodison Park is amazing, to play against Tottenham in your own stadium is amazing. It's great to go to those stadiums but it's more important for me to play at home with more than 30,000 people supporting us.

“They're not in best moment but they're a good team with a good manager and had an amazing season last season. Our biggest mistake would be to think West Ham have problems. One day they will start to win games, I hope it's not Saturday.”

Karanka has suggested since returning to the top-flight that the Premier League is already split into a couple of divisions, with Everton and Tottenham identified as being in a ‘different league’ because of their push for a top four finish.

The Middlesbrough boss backtracked on such comments this time, although he still feels West Ham are a team more capable of finishing in a top eight finish than the relegation spot they currently occupy.

He said: “In the position that they are in now. They are playing in the same league as us. Maybe I made a mistake to say Everton was not in our league because we can't go to the pitch thinking 'Everton is not our league, Tottenham is not in our league, Man United, City, Liverpool are not in our league' because if we don't win one game, or we don't win a point in those games we are going to be relegated.

“We have to play every single team thinking we can beat them and the best proof is we were better than Tottenham for the last 35 minutes, we were better than Everton for the first 25 minutes so we have play thinking we can beat them.

“West Ham are not having a good moment but the biggest mistake would be to go there thinking that it is going to be an easy game because they have problems in their new stadium, they are not playing well. They showed last season that they have a really good manager and really good players.”