AS Middlesbrough close in on their first attacking signing of the January transfer window, Fabio da Silva is confident the goals will soon flow in the battle to stay clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Aston Villa striker Rudy Gestede has been on Teesside to finalise a £6m move to the Riverside Stadium, where he will be expected to compete with Alvaro Negredo for the right to lead the line.

He passed a medical yesterdays and is expected to be confirmed as a new signing on a three and a half year deal later today. 

Gestede, who has scored four goals in 18 appearances for the Villans where he has been used more as a substitute under Steve Bruce, is seen as a targetman capable of holding the ball up and scoring occasionally.

That sort of player is more suited to the system Aitor Karanka likes to adopt and the head coach has regularly insisted the fact his side create chances means he is not concerned by a lack of goals.

Together with Hull City, Boro are lumbered with the poorest scoring record in the Premier League this season and it is hoped this month’s tinkering on the transfer front will help give that unwanted statistic a boost.

Fabio, who has performed well as a full-back in an efficient backline, believes they have the players capable of finding the net and the team can deliver positive results provided they can keep doing things right in their own half.

The Brazilian said: “The team is very, very solid, even the striker and the wingers help in defence so that makes it easy.

“That's the basic thing, you have to be very solid in this league and get clean sheets like we have. The goals are going to come if you do that.”

Middlesbrough have only conceded 22 goals in the top-flight and that is up there with many teams in the top ten. They have remained in the fight to stay above the relegation zone, however, because of a lack of goals at the other end.

“We are very solid, we work hard in defence but it's not just the five at the back it's everyone working their socks off for the team. It's important that everyone works hard defensively,” said Fabio, after Monday’s goalless draw with Leicester City.

“Of course, it's intensive in training, everyone works very hard and runs for each other and that's the basic thing we work on with Karanka every day.”

Fabio, a product of the Manchester United youth system, sees similarities in the way Karanka approaches the game to that he experienced under Sir Alex Ferguson.

“You cannot compare, although I think they are quite similar because Sir Alex believes in a good defence and going forward from there,” he said. “I think Karanka has that mentality as well. I think in football, not to concede, because you will then get something (from the game).

“United built everything on a sound defence, I think that's the clever thing to do, start at the back and go forward from there.”

After impressing at left-back when he got the chance to fill in for George Friend, he was also on his preferred right side against Leicester after an injury to Antonio Barragan. The Spaniard picked up a hamstring problem so Fabio is ready to play there again if he is asked.

He said: “It doesn't matter what side I play, I play on the right and I am right-footed to be fair but I've played on the left all my career so it doesn't bother me.”

“I am really enjoying playing, the team and the manager are giving me confidence and if he picks me I am going to give 100 per cent every game.

“Antonio's played almost every single game in the Premier League and maybe he's not used to this time of year – like Christmas – it's different and he's got an injury but I think he will be back soon.”

Boro have also given permission for goalkeeper Tomas Mejias to join Rayo Vallecano on loan.

Mejias has not featured this season and has found himself behind Victor Valdes, Brad Guzan and Dimi Konstantopoulos in the pecking order. He has travelled to join the Spanish second division club and trained with them yesterday.