MICHAEL Carrick admits the strength of the three relegated teams has made this season's Championship particularly tough, but says his Middlesbrough side are relishing the promotion challenge as they prepare to face leaders Leicester City this weekend.

Leicester, Leeds and Southampton were all strongly fancied after coming down from the Premier League and the top of the Championship is playing out as many expected, with the relegated sides currently occupying three of the top four places.

Leaders Leicester are already 11 points clear of third place Leeds, who are finding their feet under Daniel Farke. Southampton, in fourth, have recovered from an early wobble and since losing to Boro are unbeaten in seven games.

"The three teams have been pretty solid this year," said Carrick.

"We played Southampton as they were going through a sticky patch and there were questions asked but I said at the time they're such a strong team, good club and good manager so they'll be right up there. And then Leeds obviously have dealt with it well and are hitting some good form.

"It's a tough league. It's always a tough league. But it is a particularly tough year this year, which is a credit to those three teams for how they've moved on pretty quickly. There's still a long way to go, and that's obviously the case for all of us.

"Through December and January it's always very busy and you can make progress quickly in that period. Of course, you can go in the opposite direction too, but we're certainly looking up and looking forward to the challenges ahead."

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Premier League parachute payments give relegated clubs a huge advantage when it comes to the Championship promotion chase, with EFL chief Rick Parry warning earlier this year that the widening gap between those in benefit of the payments and the rest of the division is a "major concern".

Carrick said:  "It's difficult for me say [if the gap is getting bigger] because I've only been here a year now, and I can only really judge on what I've experienced myself.

"It probably depends year on year, who comes down, what kind of club they are, what kind of structure they've got, what kind of squad they're able to keep... It's difficult to say, but we are where we are.

"Largely, we're happy with where we are right now in terms of the structure of the set-up and the strength of the squad we've got. We're looking up, we're looking to improve and that's ultimately all we can do and what we'll keep trying to do.

"In terms of parachute payments, that's not something I'm interested in getting involved in. I'm here to focus on us as a team, how can I be the best manager and the best coach, what do the players need from me to be the best they can be?

"Developing the players we've got is a massive focus, developing them and getting the best out of them. And then at the right time, adding to the group and making it as best as we possibly can, whatever the resources are or however much money there is to spend.

"There can only be so much because you're only allowed to spend so much. We've just got to make the best of it, whether there are other people who are bigger, have more money, have less money, or whatever. That's not for me to worry about. It's about making the best of what's in these four walls at the training ground."