DARREN RANDOLPH moved to Teesside in part to help maintain his position as the Republic of Ireland's first-choice goalkeeper, but Gary Monk will hope the 30-year-old won't have to showcase his talents to the extent he was required to against Preston North End on such a regular basis.

Randolph has joked with his team-mates that while they go on 'holiday' during this first international break of the campaign, he will be putting in the hard yards as he looks to add to his 22 appearances for his country with a World Cup qualification double-header against Georgia and Serbia.

A third consecutive clean sheet on home soil, which added to the one kept by Dimi Konstantopoulos in the League Cup stroll against Scunthorpe, sees Middlesbrough yet to concede a goal at the Riverside in more than six hours' football this season, underlining the shrewd business in bringing in the former West Ham player on a four-year deal in the summer.

"He was excellent again for us, and he's settled in perfectly," team-mate George Friend revealed. "Darren's got that experience internationally and both in the Championship and Premier League so he's been a key signing." The full-back, who was taken off early in the second-half after an uncharacteristically below-par display, admits he needed to be reminded of Randolph's plans for the up-coming international hiatus. 

He added: "I asked him what he was going to be doing in the break, and he said 'I'm going to Georgia'. I'm thinking 'Why are you going there?' I'd forgotten he was off playing for his country." 

Randolph knows that maintaining such high standards for Middlesbrough goes hand-in-hand with helping to realise his dream of appearing in next summer's World Cup finals in Russia. He was far from guaranteed a regular starting role with the Hammers after the arrival of Joe Hart, and appears to have timed his departure well from what looks to be a sinking ship.

He said: "I'm listening to the boys talk about where they're going to go on holiday, while I'll be away with two World Cup qualifiers to play.

"To be honest, I couldn't have expected to keep my place in the national side if I wasn't playing a whole season so the opportunity to come here to try and get games to play regular football ahead of a World Cup summer is a big part of the reason I moved. First and foremost I'm here to do a job to get the club back up to where I feel it belongs."

Friend and the other players not on international duty will have time to dwell on what at first sight might appear a disappointing result, but one which could end up being a valuable point gained at the culmination of the season in May.

Monk's side face trips to Bolton and Aston Villa when hostilities resume in September, and Friend added: "After a frustrating draw like that it would have been nice to have a game on Tuesday to bounce back. We know we've not got that luxury, so we'll work hard on the training ground and build up to when we return to action.

"At this stage of the season, I think we'd like a few more points on the board, but it's a strong foundation we can certainly build on. I think anyone who knows the Championship realises the games are going to come thick and fast after the international break and we can really pick up points from there."