AITOR KARANKA has expressed his sympathy for former Middlesbrough attacker Emmanuel Ledesma after falling out of favour at Rotherham United.

Middlesbrough host the Millers in the Championship on Tuesday evening, but Ledesma is unlikely to be involved, with new manager Neil Redfearn leaving him out since replacing Steve Evans last month.

Ledesma signed permanently for Rotherham during the summer after spending time on loan at the New York Stadium last season, and the attacking midfielder criticised Karanka for not supporting him while at the Riverside Stadium.

“At Middlesbrough, I gave my all but I didn’t feel that confidence from the manager. I am so happy because Steve trusts me. If I miss a chance, he’ll try to help me,” Ledesma told the Sheffield Star in July.

“The manager can get the best out of me because he understands me. He understands what I need. Some other coaches don’t understand me. They don’t give me that confidence.

“Steve is like a father to me. He’s helped me a lot. He puts his arm round me and says nice words. He says: ‘You can take all the free-kicks, you can do everything, you can do it.’ And he tells me he’s saying that to me because he knows I can do it.”

Karanka could not guarantee the 27-year-old first-team football at Boro, but hopes he can re-ignite his career in South Yorkshire.

“He was unlucky,” said Karanka. “Someone told me he did an interview in the summer and he was really pleased because Steve Evans was his dad and he understood him, but he's not played with Steve and he's not playing now.

“When he was with us he was a good player, scored some important goals in that first season, and I wish him all the best.”