Watford's Tom Cleverley backs Middlesbrough for Championship promotion

That's the claim from Watford boss Tom Cleverley who "absolutely" expects Boro to be right there in the mix to go up despite their mixed start to the campaign.

Cleverley closely studied Boro last week in the build-up to Saturday's game at Vicarage Road and then obviously watched them in person and described Michael Carrick's side as a "top team".

And while reluctant to put any extra pressure on his "old mate" from Manchester United, Cleverley believes Boro are serious promotion contenders.

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Boro were fancied before a ball was kicked this season and showed their promotion credentials with last week's impressive win at West Brom. But they've also lost three of their first nine games, including Saturday's setback at Watford, and are currently ninth - not that Carrick is paying any attention to the table at this early stage of the campaign.

And although Watford got the better of Boro on Saturday thanks to late goals from substitutes Edo Kayembe and Kwadwo Baah, Cleverley has seen enough to be convinced Carrick's side are one of the teams to beat this season.

“For me, they are one of, if not the best team in the league in possession," said Cleverley.

"They’ve got such good quality and are so well-coached. You could see their quality throughout the game.

"Middlesbrough are a top team. I don’t want to put my old mate under any extra pressure, but absolutely, yeah, having prepared for them, watching them in person on Tuesday night and then watching them again today, absolutely they are a high quality football team, especially in possession.

"I fully expect them to be up there this season and I’ve said previously, if you finish above Middlesbrough this season I think you’ve got every chance of going up.”

Boro must stew on their Watford frustrations for a fortnight before they get chance to right the wrongs of their Vicarage Road defeat when Bristol City visit the Riverside after the international break.

Carrick said: “It is what it is. It’s what we’re used to now. Win, lose, draw, it’s just what we’ve got to move on with. Of course, it’s not the result we want to go into the break with by any stretch, but by the time the next one comes along, we’ll be ready."