Mowbray keen for winning start

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray is keen to get off to a winning start to the new season in the opening game at Barnsley this weekend.

Boro travel to Oakwell with seven new signings within their ranks and optimism high after closely missing out on the play-offs last term. They are set to be cheered on by in excess of three thousand travelling supporters.

The visitors are reporting virtually a clean bill of health with only striker Lukas Jutkiewicz around three weeks away from a return following a knee injury. Newcomer Mustapha Carayol [hamstring], Joe Bennett [knee] and Faris Haroun [groin] are all back in training.

"My preference would be generally to have the first game away but we're expecting a tough match and they'll be looking forward to it as well, so let's see how we go," Mowbray told Boro's official website. "I've got no crystal ball but I do know we'll be prepared, work really hard and try to get some results."

One player the visitors won't have to contend with is ex-Boro marksman Mido, who is already ruled out by hamstring trouble. Meanwhile, Tony Silva [knee] and Jim O'Brien [shoulder] remain doubtful.

Barnsley manager Keith Hill's main area of concern is though in goal. Recent signing Ben Alnwick is suspended after being sent-off against Rochdale in the Capital One Cup last weekend. His likely replacement, Luke Steele, is carrying an abdominal injury and therefore Columbian shot-stopper David Gonzales has been drafted in to cover on non-contract terms.

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