Thursday 24 November 2016 14:39, UK
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka insists he is unconcerned by Alvaro Negredo's goal drought.
The 31-year-old Spain striker, who signed from Valencia in the summer, has not found the net since the opening game of the season against Stoke.
Boro have only won twice in the league this season but Karanka says he is pleased with Negredo's contribution to the team.
"Always when a striker is not scoring goals you will hear the critics," Karanka said.
"His performances on the pitch are really good and he is working very hard to make sure that he keeps improving.
"We are not a top team that are going to be in the opponents' box 10 times. We are going to have one or two chances per game.
"The main thing is that Alvaro is working for the team and he is doing that. He's learning."
Boro travel to Leicester on Saturday, sitting in 15th place and just a point behind the Foxes, who have struggled to recapture last year's title-winning form in the Premier League.
Leicester sealed their passage to the Champions League knockout stages in midweek but Karanka is hoping to capitalise on their stuttering league form.
He said: "They are not in a good moment now. They are not doing well in the league but they have qualified for the Champions League and so it will be a difficult game.
"To do what they have done in the Champions League is not easy, regardless of where they are in the Premier League."
"It was an example of togetherness and how you need to play as a team to achieve anything. Maybe they are not used to playing in two big competitions.
"The key for me is to try, especially against the top teams in the league, to be in the last moments of the game with chances to draw or win the game."
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