Karanka: I’m staying put

Aitor Karanka will lead Middlesbrough back into the Premier League next season after dismissing reports linking him with a move away from the Riverside Stadium.

Speculation has swirled over Karanka’s future on Teesside after a bizarre mid-season bust-up which saw him stay at home while his club slumped to a potentially crucial defeat at Charlton.

But mutual faith was emphatically restored as Cristhian Stuani’s early goal paved the way for Boro to claim the 1-1 draw they required against promotion rivals Brighton in order to book their return to the top-flight after a seven-year absence.

Karanka, who signed a new four-year contract last year, said: “I said in my last press conference I have three more years here, and the contract is there.”

Asked specifically if he is still considering leaving the Riverside, Karanka added: “Today, thinking how difficult it has been to get promotion, I can say no.

“There are just 20 privileged managers who can be in the Premier league. I am going to be one of them after just two and a half years of experience, and that is amazing.”

Karanka paid particular tribute to the way his side managed to fight back from the agony of missing out on promotion after losing last year’s play-off final to Norwich.

He added: “When I came here two and half years ago and the group was not in a good position, and that season we finished the …

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