AITOR KARANKA has admitted he will look to make changes to his Middlesbrough team in a bid to improve his side’s Premier League fortunes.

Three consecutive defeats have increased concerns around the Riverside Stadium, particularly given the manner in which Crystal Palace, Everton and Tottenham created openings with ease.

And even though Boro performed well in spells during all of those games, Karanka will spend this week searching for the best way to make his team more effective in the top-flight, with his thoughts fixed on making Boro more solid, like they were in the Championship, while also becoming more threatening at the other end.

Young winger Adama Traore’s speed improved things against Tottenham after his introduction for the final half hour, while Jordan Rhodes linked up play and had a header on target.

Karanka was pleased with the impact of both, although starting them at West Ham on Saturday is something he will have to decide on although he has shown a reluctance so far.

The head coach claimed he will “of course” make changes for the club’s first trip to the London Stadium, where the Hammers continued their poor start with a 3-0 defeat to Southampton on Sunday.

Karanka said: “Now I can't say what I will change because I have one week to prepare and to analyse what happened against Tottenham but I will once again try to put the best 11 on the pitch.

“I've done that for the last two and a half years and if I make mistakes they are my mistakes but always thinking what is the best option for the team.”

One clean sheet from an opening seven fixtures this season is completely against what Karanka demands, so it could be that his backline alters once more.

Calum Chambers, on loan from Arsenal this season, was preferred to Daniel Ayala at the heart of the defence on Saturday but his debut did not go according to plan.

Karanka said: “Calum is a player who has come here to help us, to play, he has Premier League experience, he's coming from Arsenal and I said when I signed him that he is an important player for us.”

Emilio Nsue can also count himself unlucky not to have kept his place at right-back this season, even if Antonio Barragan had been one of Boro's better players before the defeat to Spurs since arriving from Valencia.

Bernando Espinosa is another option but is yet to appear for the first team since arriving as a free agent after leaving Sporting Gijon. His only outing so far was in the defeat to Scunthorpe for the Under-23s in the Football League Trophy.