JONATHAN WOODGATE can’t wait to get his first season underway in football management and has told Middlesbrough’s fans 'its time to get excited'.

Woodgate, who has revealed Boro are still hoping to get more signings in before Friday night’s Championship opener at newly-promoted Luton Town, has worked since he got the job on making the team more adventurous and attack-minded.

Even though there hasn’t been the money flying around for new recruits that previous Middlesbrough managers have had, Wooodgate is satisfied with the progress he has made in a short space of time.

He said: “I would be excited if I was a Middlesbrough fan now. We are a young coaching team, vibrant, we want to buy younger players, get younger players into the team. This is a good time to support Middlesbrough at the minute.”

He added: “I am really excited. We have worked as hard as we could over pre-season and I can’t wait for the first game. Each manager has different philosophies, mine is totally different to how I see the game being played.

“I want to attack teams, press teams. I want to keep clean sheets. There’s a time when you stay compact and then press in different areas. It’s how I see the game being played.”

Middlesbrough have brought in winger Marcus Browne and defender Marc Bola, as well as re-signed goalkeeper Tomas Mejias, since Woodgate replaced Tony Pulis.

He is looking for more, though, and Torino’s Lucas Boye is the latest to have been linked. Middlesbrough have a long list of targets, but hope more are confirmed before the trip to Kenilworth Road.

Woodgate said: “I am optimistic, I think we will sign a few more players it’s important we have everyone fit at the minute. I am sure Neil Bausor and Adrian Bevington are working as hard as they can. I know what I want myself.”

The Middlesbrough head coach revealed that goalkeeper Darren Randolph and skipper George Friend should be available to face Luton after injury lay-offs. Dael Fry is making progress but will not make the opener.