FINN Azaz always knew it was just a matter of time until he started racking up goals and assists for Middlesbrough.

After two assists early in the season against Portsmouth and Cardiff, Azaz went six straight games without being directly involved in a Boro goal.

But throughout that time he was delighted with the way he was performing for Michael Carrick's side and knew his rewards would soon come.

That's been the case in recent weeks, with Azaz scoring three goals and creating three more in Boro's last five outings.

He's the only Boro outfield player to have started every Championship game and after being shifted to the left flank on a couple of occasions early in the campaign to cover for the injured Riley McGree, he's now back at No.10 where he undoubtedly looks most comfortable.

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“I’m really happy with my performances throughout the season," said the former Aston Villa playmaker.

"I focused on trying to be consistent and nailing down a main role and position in the team and I’m really happy to do that. I just need to keep pushing to improve all the time now."

Azaz joined Boro midway through last season and after his first full summer on Teesside is now settled on and off the pitch.

He said: "I feel comfortable in the team now, and I think the team has been playing really well in general, which helps because they’re able to get me the ball. The trust from the manager in me in that position, and the trust from my team-mates to just constantly give me the ball, really helps. It’s been really enjoyable.

“People always look at goals and assists, of course. But I’d like to think if people are watching the games they’ll see that even when they weren’t coming, the performances were still good. I’ve been really happy with them. Obviously if you are consistent with performances, the goals and assists will come. I’ve focused more on being consistent in my performances rather than worry too much about how many goals or assists I was getting.

"I felt I was doing a lot of the right things and maybe not getting the rewards for it, but it was important to just keep doing the right things and believing it would come. There was never any frustration at all. We’ve got the ultimate confidence in that dressing room that it will come at all times. We’re not really looking at stats and things like that, we’re just trying to be consistent with our training and in games every single week."