JONNY HOWSON is happy with Middlesbrough’s steady climb up the Championship table, but the midfielder has warned the rest of the division to watch out for what will happen when the Teessiders eventually hit top gear.

Howson will line up against his former employers, Norwich City, this evening looking to help extend Boro’s unbeaten run to eight games.

Saturday’s comeback draw at Fulham underlined the strength of character within Garry Monk’s squad, and while Sheffield United’s derby win at Hillsborough on Sunday knocked Boro down to sixth, they remain just five points off top spot ahead of this week’s matches.

They have only suffered two defeats in all competitions this season, but Howson feels they have achieved their solid start without ever being at their best. There have been flashes of quality and cohesion in a number of games, but with plenty of room for improvement, the 29-year-old cannot wait to see what might be possible once things gradually click into place.

“We’re on a decent run, and that shows the resilience and character we’ve got,” said Howson, who returned to Boro’s Championship line-up at the weekend after finding himself on the bench for the previous three league games. “You saw it in the game at the weekend - we went behind with five minutes to go, but we were able to produce a response.

“We’ve shown the spirit is there, but the best thing is that we’ve still got more to come. We know we can get a lot better, but on the other hand, that’s seven games unbeaten and that’s not to be sniffed at in this league.

“In a strange way, it’s probably even more of a positive that we’ve got those results without getting anywhere near to what I think we’re capable of.

“That’s the sign of a good side, picking up points when you’re not playing to your very best, but it should get even better when things really click. We just have to keep this going now, and hopefully the performances will keep getting better and better.”

Tonight’s game will see Howson lock horns with his former Norwich team-mates just two-and-a-half months after swapping Carrow Road for the Riverside.

The Yorkshireman made 188 senior appearances for the Canaries, featuring in the play-off final win over Boro at Wembley and playing in the vast majority of his side’s games as they were unable to survive in the top-flight.

He was a popular figure amongst Norwich supporters, but while this evening’s game will come with an inevitable tinge of emotion attached, it will be nothing compared to one of his previous encounters with a former team.

Having been born and raised as a Leeds United fan, Howson spent six years on the books at Elland Road, and admits his first experience of lining up against his hometown club was a difficult one to get his head around.

“I’ve had this kind of situation before in my career, but to be honest, this might be a little bit different,” he said. “When I went back to Leeds with Norwich, that was a bit difficult because I grew up supporting that side, I knew people there, and I loved the club really.

“That was difficult. I think this will be a little bit different to that. I obviously didn’t grow up with Norwich, although I had a terrific five years there. Once the whistle blows, it’s the same as any other game. We’ll be going for three points – the talking can be done before and after the game. It’s not something that will affect me.”

Had he remained at Carrow Road, Howson would almost certainly have been assured of a place in Norwich’s starting line-up.

The midfield competition at Middlesbrough is more intense, with Adam Clayton, Grant Leadbitter and Adam Forshaw also competing for a place in the central area.

By his own admission, Howson started the season relatively slowly and was dropped after the goalless draw with Preston, but having returned to the starting line-up in the Carabao Cup win at Aston Villa, Grant Leadbitter’s knee injury meant he remained in the side at Craven Cottage.

He was Boro’s best player at the weekend, so while Leadbitter could be contending for a starting spot tonight, it would be a major surprise if Howson was not to feature in the starting XI.

“From a personal point of view, the competition is one of the things I wanted coming here,” he said. “I wanted to play with good players, but I also wanted that competition because I think it brings the best out of everyone.

“You can never switch off, and if you do, there’s always someone waiting to step in, as I’ve rightly found out. That’s only going to benefit the team in the long run.

“If you look at every position, we’ve got two or three lads fighting for places, and very good quality right throughout the side. If everyone can keep the character that we’ve shown so far, it’s going to bode well for us.”

Middlesbrough (probable, 4-2-3-1): Randolph; Christie, Fry, Gibson, Fabio; Clayton, Howson; Johnson, Baker, Traore; Assombalonga.