BRITT ASSOMBALONGA marked his return to action for Middlesbrough with a pre-season hat-trick to warm Jonathan Woodgate’s heart at Salford City.

The club’s record buy, playing for the first time in pre-season, scored two in the first half, one a stunner, and completed his hat-trick in the second half before he was substituted.

Middlesbrough – who didn’t have forwards Rudy Gestede and Martin Braithwaite to call on - had to come from behind at the Peninsula Stadium and were indebted to the goalscoring quality of Assombalonga.

On a night when he returned to the fold following his summer of Africa Cup of Nations duty with Congo, there were also starts for Adam Clayton and Marvin Johnson after appearing with the Undner-23s at Bishop Auckland at the weekend.

Middlesbrough – thumped 5-1 at Heideheim on Saturday - had a few early chances, with Daniel Ayala and Paddy McNair directing headers towards goal from corners, and Ashley Fletcher fired an effort wide.

Then Salford had a spell, testing the visitors. Goalkeeper Aynsley Pears, watched by his father and former Boro keeper Stephen, was frustrated when he made a strong save to deny a header from Liam Hogan, only for Lois Maynard to nod in the rebound unmarked on 20 minutes.

Immediately after that Salford should have had two. Pears made a brilliant stop to deny former Hartlepool striker Devante Rodney, who had robbed Ryan Shotton on the edge of his box. The second opportunity was drilled wide this time.

Middlesbrough, and Assombalonga, got going. With ten minutes remaining in the opening period, Johnson’s deep cross to the back post was headed down and inside the net by the striker.

Last season’s top scorer hit a better goal on the stroke of half-time. This time he volleyed sweetly inside the middle of goalkeeper Kyle Letheren’s net first time with stunning power after arriving to meet McNair’s delivery to the edge of the area.

Woodgate resisted the chance to make changes at the break and didn’t. In fact his only change on the night was that which saw Marcus Tavernier replace the hat-trick man.

Salford had a spell of pressure after that, but Pears wasn’t really seriously tested. He did have to hold an effort from Mani Dieseruvwe.

Middlesbrough took command and were rewarded with Assombalonga’s third. The £15m man slid in at the back post with 23 minutes remaining to convert Hayden Coulson’s brilliant low cross from the left.

That was his last action before Assombalonga – who scored a hat-trick at Hartlepool last pre-season - was replaced. And that was how things stayed.

Middlesbrough: Pears; Howson, Ayala, Shotton, Coulson; Clayton, Wing, McNair; Johnson, Fletcher; Assombalonga (Tavernier 67). Subs (not used): Mejias, Spence, Stubbs, Malley, Saville, Jones.