AITOR KARANKA hopes Stewart Downing was given a big lift after wearing the captain’s armband during Middlesbrough’s comfortable win over Charlton.

Downing has been the subject of speculation over the last ten days with claims Sunderland were keeping an eye on his situation following a disagreement with the head coach.

But the former West Ham winger was handed the captaincy in the absence of Jonathan Woodgate, Grant Leadbitter and George Friend against the Addicks at the Riverside.

Karanka said: “He’s the most experienced player and the crowd love him. For me it’s important who is captain because of the spirit that I want to transmit on the pitch. With him on the pitch as captain, I think it would be a good boost for him and the team.”

Downing was effective and it was his delivery which led to Daniel Ayala’s third and final goal to secure the points against Charlton.

But Karanka, whose side beat Manchester United in the League Cup just three days earlier, does not think anything can be taken for granted in the promotion race ahead of Rotherham’s visit to the Riverside on Tuesday night.

He said: “Tuesday will be the same as Charlton, when you play at home the teams come to waste time and I understand them doing that because I would do the same.

“We have to play in our way and try to score the first as much as possible. I knew it wouldn’t be an easy game because it is difficult after playing Manchester United in midweek. You can’t go out there thinking it will be easy.

“The first goal was the key. When you get it, the game is easier. When you get the first, the second and third will come. We played very well in the first-half, but I said at the interval that we had to keep going at the same intensity.

“I think it was almost perfect. We can always improve, but we’ve won, kept another clean sheet and players with four bookings didn’t get a yellow card.”

Karanka also reserved praise for Bruno Zuculini after the Argentine impressed at the heart of the midfield on his first start since his loan move from Manchester City.

Karanka said: “He was amazing. He reflects how strong this team is because he arrived only five days ago, played at Old Trafford and here – and looks like he’s been here all season. He is a young player with character and showed that here.

“He has some bad moments on the pitch when the crowd got impatient with him, but he played the full 90 minutes. I’m very pleased with him.”