Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has said that his side deserve to be playing Premier League football next season.

The Teessiders sit in third place in the Championship table, with only goal difference separating them from an automatic promotion spot as they head into the final two games of the campaign.

However, having watched his team beat Rotherham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and, most recently, promotion rivals Norwich City in the space of a week, Karanka believes that they deserve to go up.

"We will fight until the last second," he told the Evening Gazette. "We have two games left and we have to wait and see if there is a mistake, but I am very proud of my team.

"This last week for us has been amazing. We have won three games in six days. When they play their best, they can beat everyone.

"I told them after the Norwich game, if there is a team who deserve to be in Premier League, it's them."

Boro's promotion bid continues on Saturday when they travel to Fulham.