VICTOR VALDES has been labelled a ‘top lad’ by the man whose place he has pinched at Middlesbrough this season - and he's impressing with his performances too.

Valdes made a slow start to life at the Riverside Stadium after agreeing to move as a free agent in the summer following a frustrating couple of years.

His arrival stunned the rest of the Premier League when he agreed to move to the newly promoted club having enjoyed a trophy laden career with Barcelona before less successful stints with Manchester United and Standard Liege.

And the World Cup and Champions League winner has started to show why he was so highly regarded throughout his career with a string of good saves in a Middlesbrough shirt in his recent matches.

Dimi Konstantopoulos, who was Aitor Karanka’s No 1 during the two promotion chasing seasons, has been frustrated to have been brushed aside to accommodate the summer signing.

However, Konstantopoulos has nothing but praise and admiration for Valdes after spending the last few months working with him on the training ground at Rockliffe Park.

The 37-year-old Greek said: “It must have been a big step for Victor, he had not really played in this league and then he went over to Belgium after not playing too much here with Manchester United.

“He had been used to playing for a team like Barcelona who would regularly have 70 per cent possession of the ball. He needed time to adjust. He took some time and he has got the right mentality to be a success.

“He is a good lad, he works hard every day and we push each other. We know all about his pedigree and his achievements from his career, that counts a lot as a personality at a football club.

“He has been a joy to work with and we have always been a very close group, since I have been her really, the new lads like Victor have gelled and it.”

Middlesbrough were unfortunate not to win at defending champions Leicester on Saturday when Valdes’ compatriot Alvaro Negredo scored two fine goals. The Foxes claimed a point, though, courtesy of two penalties.

Valdes was not overly worked at the King Power Stadium, but in previous matches with Chelsea, Manchester City, Bournemouth and Arsenal he showed his quality with some very good stops.

His performances have kept out Konstantopoulos, Brad Guzan and Tomas Mejias and he has started to develop a greater understanding with the defence in front of him.

Middlesbrough are weighing up options for when the January transfer window opens and they have retained an interest in Nevan Subotic after his summer switch broke down.

The Borussia Dortmund defender expects to leave the German club in the coming months but he has to prove his fitness first, after making his comeback for the Under-23s last week after undergoing rib surgery last summer.

His serious medical issues were the reason why the £7m deal to Middlesbrough collapsed but he is determined to return to his best on the field again after making good progress.

Asked whether he is still likely to leave Dortmund, Subotic said: “This is an option. Before then there is still a bit of time. My concentration at the moment is: If I do not play games and get on the pitch, I cannot offer anything for Borussia Dortmund or any other club in the world. That’s why this is the most important thing now.

“Anything can happen. Everything that has to do with my contract, or with my future, I really do not care about it now. I trust my advisor. I do my work on the pitch. He will decide when it makes sense to talk about it.”

Subotic has a contract until 2018 at Dortmund. He said: “There is now nothing to talk with anyone – whether with Borussia Dortmund or another club – if I do not confirm my performance on the pitch.

“Otherwise there is no foundation. I do not want to live on my history. It is an indication of the quality I have, but I have to confirm this again.”

  •  Dimi Konstantopoulos's new restaurant, Great, in the Middlesbrough's Linthorpe Road, opened its doors on Monday.