ASHLEY FLETCHER is confident of an instant return to the top-flight with Middlesbrough.

The striker moved from West Ham last week for £6m as Boro took their summer spending to £42m with the capture of the 21-year-old forward.

He impressed in Saturday’s 2-1 friendly win over Augsburg at the Riverside, the performance giving supporters the chance to see their new-look side at first-hand.

With a new manager in place and plenty of new recruits, there’s a real optimism that Boro can get back to the Premier League at the first time of asking under Garry Monk.

Fletcher said: “You look at the quality of the players that have signed, and the quality of the squad that was already here in the first place, and it’s a Premier League squad, there’s absolutely no doubt about that.

“If we apply ourselves right and do what we need to do then there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll be challenging at the very top of the table.”

“You’ve got to give credit to the board and the chairman for going out and buying people like Britt Assombalonga, Martin Braithwaite and Jonny Howson. It just shows the ambition of the club, and where the club should be, which is in the Premier League. Middlesbrough is a Premier League club, and we want to get there as quickly as possible. Hopefully, we should do it this year.’’

And, while £15m man Assombalonga may be the headline signing and Boro’s record recruit, Fletcher isn’t willing to sit around and watch from the bench.

“There’s a lot of competition, but that’s football,’’ he reflected. “We’re not here to be nice with each other and let each other play. It’s a real fight – I want to be playing, and other players want to be playing too.

“Competing with other people in your position can only bring the best out of you because you push yourself harder and push yourself to the limit. That can only benefit the team, and if everyone is on point and everyone is firing then the gaffer has a real decision to make.’’

Fletcher admitted the infectious nature of Monk and a persistence from the boss to make a move helped persuade him to move to Teesside.

“The interest from the manager was vital, with the faith he has shown in me over the last few months, wanting to bring me to the clubs he has been at,’’ said Fletcher. “When it came down to it, and knowing that the manager was here, it turned out to be a no-brainer really.’’

Boro start their season at Wolves on Saturday. Molineux chiefs have also spent big this summer, with ten players arriving at Molineux, including £15m Ruben Neves.

It should provide a stern opening test for Monk and Fletcher admitted: “I can’t wait for next weekend. We obviously need to finalise a few things in terms of set-pieces and stuff like that, but even though I’ve only been here a couple of days, I can already see that the confidence is so high. There’s a real belief. The gaffer spoke before the game about being a unit and being a team that’s going to be turning the Riverside into a fortress. There’s exciting times ahead here at Middlesbrough, and I can’t wait to get going.