David Strelec "The Real Deal" States Former Middlesbrough Star

David Strelec "The Real Deal" States Former Middlesbrough Star

After a goal-laden season with Slovan Bratislava last season, Middlesbrough new boy David Strelec has arrived on Teesside to much admiration and optimism. After a lively debut on as a half-time substitute against Preston North End last weekend, the Slovenian forward has left many fans impressed and hopeful of the days ahead with Strelec as a figurehead of the team.

Former club favourites have also made the step up in their adorations of Strelec, with former Middlesbrough and Manchester United stalwart Gary Pallister claiming the 24-year-old to be "the real deal".

Pallister Shows Favour to Boro New Boy

'Boro fans will be more than happy to listen to the opinions of someone like Pallister in regards to their players - the towering former centre-back turned out on 211 occasion in the league for Middlesbrough, and was capped 22 times for England.

The Norton-raised defender was clear in his impressions on Strelec's substitute debut against Preston, revealing to betting website BetWright his thoughts on the 24-year-old's first appearance:

“Strelec looked like the real deal when he came on; he showed a clear understanding for the game and posed a real threat. While it was only 45 minutes, I like what I saw and if the club can keep the two cracking midfielders fit in the ‘engine room’, Boro are as good as anyone in the Championship. They’ll certainly have a strong chance of making the playoffs – that’s for sure.”

Hackney and Morris Crucial, States Pallister

The 60-year-old defender-turned-pundit holds high hopes for his former club's aspirations this season in general as well, and held particularly high praise for midfield duo Hayden Hackney and USA international Aiden Morris:

“Middlesborough need to keep hold of Hayden Hackney and Aiden Morris if they want to be serious promotion contenders - both of those centre-midfielders have been crucial to Boro’s solid start of the season. David Strelec looks like he could be a really talented player, who can produce a lot of goals in the Championship – which is the area where they struggled towards the end of last season. They weren’t scoring enough goals to get into the playoffs."

Hackney spent much of the summer being touted for a move away from Teesside, with Wolverhampton Wanderers amongst the clubs vying for his signature, which would have resulted in two star departures in 'Boro's midfielder after Irishman Finn Azaz made the jump to Southampton.