GEORGE Friend knows all about the threat from Middlesbrough’s sprint king Adama Traore.

Now the full-back is happy to watch 20-year-old Traore posing massive problems for other Premier League defenders with his pace.

Traore’s impressive performance in Saturday’s goalless draw at Arsenal did not surprise Friend.

He said:”I’ve had to deal with that every day in training and now it’s nice that other people are having to.

“I’m delighted for him because he’s only a young lad and he’s really done himself proud.

“When you’ve got dangerous players in your team on the counter attack, like Alvaro Negredo, Gaston Ramirez and Adama, they can cause problems – and they did.”

Traore clocked the fastest sprint in the Premier League at the weekend at 34.84km/h – more than 21mph – and has also been the quickest Boro player in two other games against Watford and Tottenham.

His ability to drive into the Arsenal half was a valuable outlet for a Middlesbrough defence that was frequently under pressure, but coped well.

Friend said: “We’re a team that loves defending. It’s not something that you want to do all the time, but we take pride in being solid and resolute.

“It’s how we’ve been so successful under this manager.

“But I thought we were excellent from the back right to the front, everyone working together.

“When you think that we could have nicked it as well, it’s a big performance from us.

“I think we silenced a lot of critics who said we wouldn’t get anything. Arsenal are a really good side so we can be proud."