AITOR Karanka is confident Middlesbrough can cope without Grant Leadbitter tomorrow and will not accept the captain’s absence as an excuse for a bad result against Watford.

Leadbitter has started all but one of Boro’s league games so far, but after picking up his fifth booking of the season in Tuesday night’s defeat at Wolves, he will watch tomorrow’s visit of Watford from the stands.

The 28-year-old has been in impressive form this term and has seven goals to his name, including match-winning strikes against Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield.

The Teessiders go into tomorrow’s game two points behind the Hornets in second with the squad eager to get back to winning ways after suffering their first defeat since August.

Leadbitter’s absence is a blow, but the Boro boss insists his squad is strong enough to get by without their talisman.

“I admire Grant,” the Spaniard said. “He is the kind of player who cares.

“If we had a player upset and disappointed after the Wolves game it would be Grant, because he wants to play every game and win every single game.

“For me, he’s a very good example for the rest of the players. He’s not just a player, he is a good lad and a strong character and that’s good for the team.

“I am confident we can cope without him. He is very important for the team, but whichever player I put in the team on Saturday will do his job 100 per cent.

“I have a very good squad, the one I wanted three or four months ago so. Grant is not going to play on Saturday but there are other players that I trust.”

Boro are hoping to open negotiations over a contract extension with Leadbitter over the coming months, but while Karanka admits the former Sunderland midfielder is an integral part of his squad, he will not accept the captain’s absence as an excuse to let tomorrow’s game slip away.

He said: “I don’t want to use Grant’s absence as an excuse. When I built the squad I knew how difficult this league was and I knew that we would have to cope with suspensions and injuries.

“Grant is not available, but I will put 11 players on the pitch that can win the game.

“He is a very good player for us but I don’t want to use the excuse that if we lose on Saturday, it is because Grant was not on the pitch.”

Leadbitter is likely to be replaced by Adam Clayton, provided the midfielder recovers from a head injury.

The former Huddersfield man missed the game in midweek after receiving a kick to the head against Brighton and Karanka is hopeful he will be fit to play a part against Watford.

Karanka said: “You have to be sure with head problems but I hope he can play.

“I am happy with how he has done since he came here. He knows the league and has brought us a lot of very good things.

“He’s good player with the ball and is a compliment for the team. Off the pitch he is another good lad with a strong character. I am very happy with him.”

Despite losing on Tuesday, Boro remain in a good position and are three points behind leaders Derby.

Watford were top before they were held to a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest midweek, but Karanka believes playing another promotion contender so soon after losing is a good test for his players.

“Watford have very good players, especially up front they have players like Troy Deeney, (Matej) Vydra, (Fernando) Forestieri, (Lloyd) Dyer and I'm forgetting one or two more.

“We have to play in our style because when we play in the way that we know it is difficult to beat us.

“It's a good game to forget our last performance and it's a good test for us because Watford are a team that are above us and they are a very good team.

“Both of us are in a good position but it is very early and we have to keep going in the same way.

“So if you play a team in a similar position to you, you have to try to beat him because it is more than three points.”

Boro have allowed Luke Williams to join Scunthorpe United on a month-long loan deal.