AITOR KARANKA has told Alvaro Negredo to carry on regardless of what the cynics are saying about his performances because the goals will eventually flow at Middlesbrough.

Negredo has been criticised in recent weeks, failing to add to the solitary goal he scored on the opening weekend of the season after arriving on loan from Valencia in the summer.

The 31-year-old has appeared 12 times for Boro in the Premier League, 11 starts, but his opening goal against Stoke on August 13 remains the only time he has found the net.

Negredo has been criticised for a lack of movement, although his head coach is satisfied with the contribution he is making at the top of his tactical system for a team based on a counter-attacking style.

Karanka said: “For him as a striker it is frustrating because he is not scoring and all of his career he is used to having the chances in games because he has played at the top level. Now he is not having as many chances and it is frustrating.

"In all his career he's used to having three or four chances every game because he's played at the top level with teams like Sevilla, Manchester City and Valencia. Now he's not having those chances and it's frustrating in that way for him.

“But his role this season is different. The aims that he had in the past are different, but if he keeps working in the way he's working the chances will arrive and the goals will arrive.”

In defence of Negredo, Boro have tended to set up to frustrate opponents before going on the offensive and, as the lone striker, he has often been the man asked to hold up and bring others into play.

They head to Leicester City tomorrow looking to spring a surprise on the champions, who are sitting just above them in the table, and Karanka will not be expecting the others to do more to help Negredo end his drought.

The head coach said: "I can't demand anything more from his team-mates to help him because every single player from the keeper to the last player who is not playing is doing their best. I can't demand anything more.

“Always when a striker is not scoring goals he is going to receive critics and when a team is not winning the manager will receive critics.

“For me, the work he is doing on the pitch is really good, and he is working hard, everyone has to understand that we are not a top team and we are not going to create ten chances in the opponents’ box.

“But we are going to have one or two chances in every game especially when we are playing teams at the top of the table and the main thing is he is working for the team and that is the most important thing.”

Negredo is expected to start against Leicester rather than a recall for Jordan Rhodes or David Nugent. Karanka said: "Every single player who is not playing is frustrated. When I was a player I was the same but as a manager I have to think about the team to put the best eleven out on the pitch.”

Full-back George Friend will be missing again with a knee injury and his manager suggested it could be “three or four weeks” before he returns. Daniel Ayala is fit again and training with the first-team, but finds himself behind Ben Gibson and Calum Chambers in the pecking order.

"It will be difficult for Dani to break back into the team; that goes for anyone who loses their place through injury or suspension. It will be a problem for them to get back in the team if their team-mates are playing really well.

"Calum’s improving, getting mature and he's playing more and that's the aim that everybody wanted. Arsenal expected him to play, he's playing. He has to keep going because he has a lot of competition in that position so for him this is an important season.”

On Gibson’s excellent form and leadership qualities in the absence of both Grant Leadbitter and Friend from the starting line-up, Karanka said: “Ben knows his role now he is wearing the armband but his role is the same. Everyone respects him because he has earned this respect.

“Ben is young and from the academy but he is more mature than his age and for that reason he is our captain on the pitch. Everyone knows the main thing is the group. Playing the way we are playing now, for sure, we are going to put points on the table.”