AITOR KARANKA has been determined to treat the FA Cup seriously from the moment he took over at Middlesbrough three-and-a-half years ago, after receiving a good piece of advice that has helped steer his team to within touching distance of a quarter-final spot.

Roberto Martinez, the former Wigan manager, warned him about the importance of the competition, having won it at Wembley just months before Karanka took over at the Riverside Stadium in 2013.

Even if he makes changes for this afternoon’s visit of Oxford United then the Middlesbrough boss insists he is still treating it seriously because he is aware of what the positive effects are from enjoying an FA Cup bounce.

Karanka said: “One of the best pieces of advice I got from one person was Roberto Martinez when I first arrived. He told me that the FA Cup was really important and that it was a competition worth winning.

“In that first season, we were close to beating Liverpool (League Cup) and beat Manchester City and lost to Arsenal in the FA Cup. With me, every single game is important.”

He doesn’t hide the fact that staying in the Premier League is the main aim and he can’t afford anything to prove a distraction. He would still love, though, to keep going in the FA Cup, and seal a quarter-final spot for the first time since 2009 for Boro.

Karanka said: “I want to play in the Premier League. That was always the first aim this season. Staying in the Premier League and the following season, making step after step but we also want to win Cups. This season our priority is to stay up.

“It was amazing to get advice from Roberto because he had been working for years in the Championship and his experience in the Premier League was a big success. He was really, really proud. He told me always to respect the FA Cup. That was the best advice he gave me.”

Wigan’s FA Cup glory was tempered by the fact they suffered relegation from the Premier League the same season. That does not concern Karanka.

The Middlesbrough boss, aware it is almost 20 years since the club’s one and only FA Cup final appearance ended in defeat to Chelsea, has ambitions to help continue to create long-standing memories like last may’s promotion party at the Riverside.

He said: “I want to keep improving. We want to create our own history for this club. It is all about the club because the club was here before me and will be here before me.

“I want to remember these days. We know it will be difficult and the Cup is an opportunity. But we know we have to be at our maximum.”

Other Premier League managers – at opposite ends of the table – have showed disdain for the FA Cup by making sweeping changes, including fielding inexperienced youngsters, while Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has suggested the cup doesn’t matter.

Karanka said: “It does matter for me. I have 25 players and only 11 can play. I have a big squad to fight for every single competition.

“The extra games are a way of motivating players by giving them games. Last season in the Championship, we had more games and this season we do not have those games, so we have to keep everyone motivated and fit and the best way to do that is by using the Cup. It is an incentive rather than a drag.

“Last season, we were used to winning almost every game. Recently we have just won a few games in the Cup. I want to keep that winning feeling and go through to keep confidence and to show the lower division teams we are competing against every single team.”

Karanka insists he will be sending out his best 11 to face Oxford, a League One side who beat Newcastle in the last round, just as he did when they faced Accrington and he made changes. His explanation is that he trusts his entire squad.

The Middlesbrough boss said: “I have said always that for me every single competition is important, we will try to do our best in every single competition. Saturday will be a tough game.

“We have the experience of the last round when we went to the pitch, thinking it would be easy. And we had problems against Accrington. Our opponents this week beat Newcastle 3-0. We want to win this because the FA Cup is an amazing competition.

“Oxford are dangerous. They have good players, when you analyse them you can feel it is not a coincidence they beat Newcastle 3-0 in the last round.

“I will choose my strongest team. We have 25 players and I have to think of the three months ahead. I will put out my best 11 because I want to win the game and I trust every single player in this squad.”