STEWART DOWNING thinks Middlesbrough will be in a stronger position to push for promotion back to the Premier League this time around – particularly once Aitor Karanka has finished his summer recruitment drive.

Downing is Boro’s marquee signing so far having decided to drop down to the Championship to spearhead his hometown club’s charge towards the top-flight.

Now Karanka is pressing ahead with a pursuit of £14m-rated Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes, in the hope of adding the Scotland international to the pre-season arrivals of Downing, Christian Stuani and Diego Fabbrini.

Middlesbrough last night completed a season-long loan move for Southampton defender Jack Stephens, who spent last year at Swindon, and the business is unlikely to stop there.

But Middlesbrough’s match preparations come to an end this afternoon when Downing makes his first Riverside  appearance for the club since May 2009 against Spanish side Getafe.

And the 31-year-old said: “We do need more players and I think the manager and the club is working hard on that, but we are shaping up nicely. Diego Fabbri looks a good signing and Christian Stuani could be a really strong player, he is going to be difficult for defenders once they both settle.

“But the manager is a good manager and he knows what he wants. I’m pretty sure over the next couple of weeks there will be a few more signings and hopefully we can get off to a good start at Preston and then Oldham in the cup.”

Downing has enjoyed his first couple of weeks as a member of Karanka’s Middlesbrough squad, having been forced to wait for a £7m deal to be concluded with West Ham since the start of pre-season.

“It’s been strange being back at Rockliffe Park,” said Downing. “A lot has changed since I was last here six years ago. The staff has changed, the players have changed and the way things are done has changed. But it’s still the same building and it has felt strange being in and around it again.

“It’s going to be good to get back over to the Riverside on Saturday to play Getafe. I’m not sure how many fans will be there, probably somewhere between 5-10,000, but it will still be a buzz to be back on the Riverside, playing.”

Downing has not graced the Riverside surface since May 2009 when he suffered a broken foot in a tackle with Aston Villa’s Stilyan Petrov in the penultimate game of that relegation season. Later that summer the Villans still signed him for £12m.

“I had to move on from that afternoon,” said Downing. “It was a really low point of my career because of what happened that season and how I moved on. When I moved on I always said I would be back one day and here I am, preparing to play at the Riverside again and I can’t wait.

“I’m disappointed it has taken so long to get Premier League football back to the Riverside. Hopefully this will be the year we can do it. Last year they narrowly missed out at Wembley and I think the manager and the players have learned from that.

“It’s been class so far in training. I have really enjoyed it. I just can’t wait for the season to start and hopefully we can make an impact on the Championship.”

Middlesbrough concluded the loan signing of Stephens, 24, yesterday so he can figure against Getafe this afternoon. They have been forced to move for another defender after injuries to Ben Gibson and Alex Baptiste, although Gibson is only expected to miss the next couple of weeks with a hamstring problem.

Middlesbrough have allowed goalkeeper Connor Ripley to join Motherwell on loan.

The 22-year-old is third choice at Boro behind Dimi Konstantopoulos and Tomas Mejias and has been allowed to go until January.

Ripley, the son of former England winger Stuart, will be competing with Dan Twardzik for a spot in the Motherwell starting line-up.

He said: “I’m very pleased to be here and after the gaffer gave me a call yesterday to say everything had gone through, I couldn’t get in the car quick enough to get up to Scotland.

“I want to play at the highest standard possible. I know I am going to have to work hard to get into the starting eleven, but if I can do that and improve as a goalkeeper, I’ll be happy.”

Tickets for this afternoon’s friendly with Getafe are still on general sale.