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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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2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd149321871128
3Leeds UnitedLeeds147522291326
4Burnley146621761124
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom14572148622
6Millwall146441712522
7Watford147162222022
8Middlesbrough146351816221
9Swansea CitySwansea14545119219
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn145451616019
11Bristol City144731819-119
12Norwich CityNorwich144642320318
13Derby CountyDerby145361818018
14Stoke CityStoke145361718-118
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16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd144551717017
17Coventry CityCoventry144371819-115
18Hull City143651518-315
19Luton TownLuton144371621-515
20Preston North EndPreston143651420-615
21Cardiff CityCardiff144371320-715
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth144371425-1115
23Queens Park RangersQPR141761223-1110
24Portsmouth141671327-149


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