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Aitor Karanka: 'Middlesbrough cannot get carried away after bright start'

Aitor Karanka admits that Middlesbrough have "started really well" this season, but warns that tougher tests lie in wait over the coming weeks and months.

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has warned his players to keep their feet on the ground following an unbeaten start the season.

The Smoggies have taken five points from a possible nine on their return to the Premier League, earning draws against Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion while also seeing off Sunderland.

Karanka has strengthened his ranks since Boro's last outing, a well-earned stalemate at The Hawthorns, by bringing in versatile defender Calum Chambers on loan from Arsenal to help cover at the back.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his side's return to action at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, Karanka told reporters: "Sometimes in the market you can find bargains. We were waiting for the right player and Calum Chambers ticks all the boxes

"We have started really well but we can't get carried away because we know how difficult this league is. I prefer to arrive at my desk with this headache to choose my team. The attitude of the players is really good and I am really pleased.

"Crystal Palace are experienced and have a good manager. But we have to focus on ourselves and play in our style."

Boro head into the fourth round of Premier League fixtures sitting sixth in the table, four points off the division's early pacesetters at the top.

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Calum Chambers during a training session ahead of the Champions League clash between Arsenal and Barcelona on February 22, 2016
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Chambers joins Middlesbrough on loan
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1Sunderland86021661018
2Burnley85211441017
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd8530103716
4West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom8512126616
5Leeds UnitedLeeds8431135815
6Blackburn RoversBlackburn8431149515
7Middlesbrough842295414
8Watford84131213-113
9Hull City8332129312
10Norwich CityNorwich83321210212
11Oxford UnitedOxford Utd83231210211
12Swansea CitySwansea832386211
13Bristol City8242913-410
14Stoke CityStoke83051012-29
15Derby CountyDerby83051012-29
16Millwall8224121118
17Coventry CityCoventry8224911-28
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth8224812-48
19Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds8224914-58
20Luton TownLuton8224813-58
21Preston North EndPreston8224712-58
22Queens Park RangersQPR8143914-57
23Portsmouth8044819-114
24Cardiff CityCardiff8116317-144


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