Britt Assombalonga scored a hat-trick as Middlesbrough handed a 5-0 defeat to Hartlepool United in Saturday’s friendly encounter.
After losing their last three tune-up games against Augsburg, Accrington Stanley and Rochdale, Tony Pulis’ men returned to victory with an emphatic first-half performance.
Assombalonga who racked up 15 goals in 46 English Championship league outings last season got the curtain raiser in the 34th minute.
The 25-year-old attacker then added the second three minutes later before completing his treble - sandwiched by a pair from Ashley Fletcher - at the nick of 45 minutes to seal the imposing first-half display against the National League side.