Middlesbrough defender David Wheater has promised he will be ready for the club's opening-day clash with Sheffield United.

The 22-year-old underwent surgery to repair a knee cartilage at the end of the last campaign, and although he will not be able to join in with his team-mates when they return for pre-season training on Monday, he is already back in business and will not be too far behind them.

"I'm certain I will be ready for the first match against Sheffield United," he told the club`s official website.

"I started working on the knee on Tuesday and everything seems fine. I have been doing squats to strengthen the knee and that's the sort of thing I will be doing for starters.

"I'm working with Grant Downie, our head physio, and he seems quite pleased with everything. In fact, I think I'm ahead of schedule, which is great.

"They said that I wouldn't be able to drive for a couple of weeks after the op, but I felt well enough to drive after four or five days."