Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has backed striker Alvaro Negredo to rediscover his goal-scoring touch ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to reigning champions Leicester City.
Negredo, 31, has come under increasing pressure to hold onto his place in the Boro front line after failing to score in 10 straight starts since the opening day of the season against Stoke City.
But Karanka insists he is happy with the Spaniard's work ethic and hopes a favourable run of games will help him rediscover the form that helped him impress during his two-year stay at Manchester City.
Karanka said: "When a striker is not scoring goals he is always going to have his critics, just like when a team is not winning a manager is going to have his critics.