“CHRIS wants to move the team up and I want to be a part of that.” From the early conversations between Middlesbrough’s management and new signing Zack Steffen, the remit is quite clear.

“It’s good for both parties. I obviously need to come in here and perform week in and week out in training. That’s my aspirations” continued the American.

After months of work behind the scenes within the recruitment department, Chris Wilder has his number one goalkeeper for the season with the City shotstopper completing a season long loan move.

Wilder is a manager who is big on the mindset of players and judging by his early comments, he’s pleased with where his new goalkeeper’s head is at. He said: “I love the mentality of the Americans. I think they are great and they want to win. They don’t always win but they have that mentality instilled in him and he’s certainly got that.”

After the move was rubberstamped on Tuesday, Steffen watched his new team mates from the stands on the evening as they blew Morecambe away with a 3-0 friendly win.

“It was good man” he said. “They put in quite a shift and they looked good. They looked like they were in sync together and defensively, I don’t think we really had to make a save so us goalkeepers, we like that back there. I’m impressed and I can’t wait to get there.” Quite the glowing reference from a player who has played for Premier League champions Manchester City and under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola.

He wasn’t quite on the pitch for the action but he was on the pitch before the game gelling in with his new team mates. “It’s been good man. There are some great guys in the locker room. It’s a pleasure to be a part of it and I’m really looking to getting to know them” he said.

While partnerships and friendships are forming, a man who had little to do on an humid evening in Lancashire was Liam Roberts may well be plotting a way to get into the Boro side at the expense of Steffen for the new season. However, Steffen looks forward to the healthy challenge of being pushed by the former Northampton keeper.

The 27-year-old added: “It’s always going to be a competition and I hope that we can build a good comradery of friendship, the comradery of challenge on the field and friendship off the field. I believe that is the best way to push each other.”

It’s clear from the off that Steffen is going to be Wilder’s first choice for the goalkeeping position and he looks set to feature for Boro when they host Marseille later this evening in their final pre-season friendly.

But the American’s decision to swap Manchester for Teesside next season is two-fold. One involves success on the international stage and one involves success on the domestic stage.

Steffen’s desire for first-team football is fuelled by the opportunity to head to Qatar for this year’s World Cup in winter. “Any time we have World Cup to play in, it’s a dream come true. That is definitely down the line so I’m definitely focussed on getting better and enjoying my days at Middlesbrough” he said.

However, as aforementioned, the ambitions and demands of the team are inherently clear to everyone in the club including Steffen. “I know the manager, the players, the Chairman have aspirations and dreams to make it back up to the Premier League. Coming from the Prem with City, I want to make it to there. It would be quite a season and that’s something to play for.”

A steely eyed Steffen was asked the question whether he thinks promotion can be achieved. His reply was emphatic. “If you’re not going for that then what are you doing?” Is he excited by his new challenge? “Absolutely. I’m looking forward to it.”