MIDDLESBROUGH’S Under-23s head into European competition for the first time tonight with a message to ‘Go and make everyone at the club proud’.

Paul Jenkins’ side will play in the Premier League International Cup for the first time when they face the holders, Spanish side Villarreal, at Darlington’s The Northern Echo Arena (7pm).

The competition sees 12 of England’s best youth teams pitted against a further dozen from across Europe.

This will be the first of Boro's group games and they will play Manchester United and Sparta Prague later this year.

The International Cup helps to give further experience during a season when they have also been allowed to play in the EFL Trophy for the first time.

Jenkins does not want Middlesbrough – who are likely to include the likes of Bryn Morris, Marcus Tavernier and Arnel Jakupovic - to take the latest competition lightly and urges his to put on a show.

“It is an honour for the club to be involved in a competition like this,” said Jenkins. “In the Under-23s we have made history this season by being the first to represent the club in the EFL Trophy and the Premier League Cup, now we're doing it in Europe.

“This will be a different kind of challenge, Villarreal won the competition last season, that's the kind of challenge we're up against. But we want that kind of challenge, we want that as coaches as well as testing the players.

“On Friday we're away in a league game and that will mean that we've been involved in four different competitions in our last four matches, one of them against a senior side, so we're getting the experience we wanted.

“We said last season that the structure of the Under-23 programme didn't benefit the people it should do. The changes made in the summer have given us a much more realistic feel to a football season. Some are finding it easier than others, but everybody is benefiting from the experience.

“You only develop through experience and what a way to gain that by playing against the best in Europe at this level and creating history for the club at the same time? We hope to make this a proud night for the club.”

It will be Boro's second game at The Northern Echo Arena this season and tickets are £3 or free to season card holders.

One player still eligible for the Under-23s but has moved on this season is Dael Fry. The teenage defender has been on international duty as well as on loan with Rotherham.

Earlier this week Fry was invited along to train with Gareth Southgate’s first team at St George’s Park and it is a sign of how highly valued he. Fry, who has already made his professional debut under Aitor Karanka, is looking forward to returning to the Riverside a better player from his time in South Yorkshire.

He said: “To be the best you’ve got to put the hours in. Since I first came to Middlesbrough as a youngster I’d always start training an hour early, and when everyone went into have dinner, I was still out there and I have carried that through to Rotherham.

“I’m delighted to be given a chance in the Championship and the manager has put his trust in me. I’ll learn from the experience – I will definitely go back to Boro as a better player.

“The move actually took me by surprise a little bit. I’d just signed my Boro contract and, on the same day, all of a sudden I was going to Rotherham. The contract shows Boro think a lot of me and they see my potential. The hard work starts here, I need to get in my extra practice to make that step up.

“I knew I wasn’t going to play much football this season so still being a young lad I go out and get experience and I want to make the most of the opportunity.”