HARRY MAGUIRE has admitted Middlesbrough spent the summer trying to sign him as he prepares to return to action with Hull City.

The 23-year-old is in line to make his first start of the season against Liverpool this weekend after recovering from an ankle problem that put a dent in his pre-season preparations.

He also had the distraction of strong interest from Middlesbrough during the summer, when Aitor Karanka is known to have had a couple of offers in the region of £5m rejected.

Hull dug their heels in because of the uncertainty surrounding the managerial position at the KCOM Stadium, where they only had 13 fit senior players to call on.

Maguire said: "I was not really concentrating on it too much. The club reiterated to me that they were not going to accept anything for me.

"Middlesbrough kept coming back, but the club kept rejecting them , which gave me a bit of confidence really and showed that they want to keep me for the long season ahead.

"Obviously, it is up to the club and I am under contract here and while I am playing here, I want to get into the side and hopefully do a job.

“I was injured at the start of the season and the boys have started well and they have picked up some good results. Now I am back in the side, hopefully I can stay in. We will have to see how it goes.”

Middlesbrough ended up signing Arsenal defender Calum Chambers on loan for the season, but have retained an interest in Maguire so they could try to tempt Hull into a sale in January or next summer.

Karanka’s thinking is on making Middlesbrough a stronger Premier League force after suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time since sealing promotion.

His team were not outclassed for the 90 minutes at second placed Everton last weekend but did suffer from a 15 minute dip in concentration which saw Ronald Koeman’s side overturn a one goal deficit to win 3-1.

Immediately after the defeat Karanka praised his players but after analysing the display he realised there were more errors than he thought and knows they can’t afford to do that in the top-flight.

He said: “I could feel and see the mistakes more clearly. I was pleased with the attitude on the pitch, especially as I knew as a player how difficult it was to play those games, but I was frustrated when we lost because of making those mistakes.

“Last season, or two seasons ago, you lost ten or 15 minutes on the pitch, and sometimes you weren't punished. But against Everton, ten minutes was three goals. We always have to be confident on the pitch and try to concentrate.

“Every team has good players at this level - Palace, Tottenham, West Ham - but we knew that at the beginning of the season and that's why we strengthened. We have to take advantage of our strengths and to take advantage of our opponents’ mistakes.”