AITOR KARANKA is confident Alvaro Negredo will be able to rediscover his best form during his season-long loan with Middlesbrough.

Having joined Boro from Valencia last week, Negredo marked his first appearance in a Boro shirt with a goal as the Teessiders claimed a 2-2 draw with Spanish Segunda Division side Alcorcon on Saturday.

Negredo slotted home from close range to open the scoring as he played the opening 45 minutes at Boro’s Marbella training base, and will spend the next two-and-a-half weeks attempting to step up his fitness ahead of the opening Premier League game with Stoke City on August 13.

The 30-year-old has endured a difficult two seasons since leaving Manchester City, but Karanka is confident his class will shine through when he returns to the English top-flight.

“He’s a really good player, and a player who can play in the Premier League for sure,” said the Boro head coach. “We can’t forget that Valencia paid €30m for him two years ago, so a player like him, you don’t forget how to play. Last season he didn’t play his best, but I am sure we will see his best this season.”

Negredo wasn’t the only player making his first Boro appearance at the weekend, as Victor Valdes also started the game before making way for Tomas Mejias at the interval.

The former World Cup winner has been eased into things with the Teessiders, but looks likely to start the new season as first choice ahead of Dimi Konstantopoulos and Mejias.

“With him on the pitch, it is good,” said Karanka, who is hoping to push through a £4m deal for Hull defender Harry Maguire, with the Humberside club currently in a state of chaos following the sudden departure of Steve Bruce. “It’s good for players like Dimi and Tomas to work with him and learn from him because he is a top keeper and it’s good to have him here.”

Valdes was unbeaten at the weekend, with Boro taking a 1-0 lead into the interval courtesy of Negredo’s opener, which came after Gaston Ramirez’s initial shot had hit the post.

Alcorcon equalised at the start of the second half when Bautista’s long-range shot appeared to wrong-foot Mejias, but Boro regained the lead with one minute left as Rhodes headed home Carlos de Pena’s cross to claim his fourth pre-season goal.

There was still time for Alcorcon to salvage a late equaliser though, as Bautista swooped on a loose ball in the box to drill home.

“The opponents weren’t Spanish Premier League, but they were in the Second Division play-offs last season and it was a good test,” said Karanka. “We played really well, especially in the first half, and had a lot of chances to score.

“The players were tired in the last 20 minutes, and we played with players in different positions, so it was a training session. We didn’t win, but I am really pleased because it was a good test and we don’t have any new injuries.”

Boro play their final game in Marbella when they take on Saudi Arabian champion Al-Ahli tomorrow morning.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Valdes (Mejias 46); Barragan (Nsue 46), Morris (de Sart 71), Gibson (Baptiste 71), Friend (Reach 71); Clayton (Forshaw 71), de Roon (Fischer 71); Adomah (Stuani 46), Ramirez (Nugent 46), Downing (de Pena 59); Negredo (Rhodes 46).