Andy Drury is preparing to clash head-on with a player he rates very highly — former team-mate Grant Leadbitter.
The ex-Sunderland player chose to quit Town at the end of last season in favour of a return to his native North East with Middlesbrough and he will be lining up against his ex-colleagues for the first time at the Riverside tomorrow.
Drury said: "Grant is one of the best midfielders in this league, to be honest. I still speak to him and he’s a good lad. But I will just go up there and play my usual game, and I’m sure he will do the same.
"When we were together I always felt as though I learned a lot from him, whether I was out on the pitch alongside him or sitting on the bench looking at what he did.
"His movement was always good and I think he is still one of the best around at this level. But Boro have several other good players and I just hope we can do enough to come out of the game with a decent result."
The former Luton man says that the additions of 12 players including Leadbitter over the summer should ensure that the Teessiders are amongst this season's challengers: "I expect Boro to be a top-six team.
"Apart from Grant they’ve made some other good signings and they weren’t far off last season. I can see them being up there again.
"But when we play to a high tempo and we’re organised and solid we can be a match for anyone in this league.”