NETO Borges has only been a Middlesbrough player for three weeks but already feels like a settled member of the squad, says impressed head coach Michael Carrick.

Borges has played every minute since his arrival from Clermont, quickly making the left-back spot his own.

And although his home debut against Preston at the weekend didn't go as well as Borges would have hoped, Carrick has been delighted with how quickly the Brazilian has made himself at home on Teesside,

"He's settled in really well, fantastically well," said Carrick.

"As a character, personality, the way he takes on the challenges and faces it head on, nothing fazes him.

"He has that element of composure about him. It feels like he's been here a lot longer than he has, that's credit to him for the way he's come in and adapted. He's done really well."

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Plenty appealed to Boro's recruitment and coaching team about Borges when they set about signing a left-back in the summer following Alex Bangura's injury.

The 28-year-old was previously on the club's radar and, as Carrick details above, was deemed to be the right character to quickly settle at the Riverside.

On the pitch, Borges is as comfortable attacking the opposition goal as defending his own.

Carrick said: "He's still adapting and learning what we expect. We don't ask too much early on and over time it will come but certainly shown some good signs."