Goalscorer delighted with start

Defender Daniel Ayala was delighted by the winning start for Middlesbrough on the opening day of the new season.

The Spaniard headed them into the lead against Birmingham City at the Riverside before fellow countryman Kike later added another.

“It’s always positive to start winning, of course,” Ayala told Boro’s official website. “It helps confidence and you do better not just in that game but the next one.

“You could see what Kike is always about. He has great movement, speed and can score, what more do you want from a striker,” he added. “He doesn’t speak English, but football is the language. You don’t need to speak the same to understand.”