Middlesbrough captain Emanuel Pogatetz has backed the club to secure a top-half finish next season.Boro's form was inconsistent last term, and it was not until the penultimate game of the campaign that they preserved their Premier League status.

However Pogatetz, who represented Austria at Euro 2008, believes Gareth Southgate's men have what it takes to finish in the top 10 next season.

"Gareth wants to raise the standards at the club and I am committed to helping him in every way I can," the defender told the Evening Gazette.

"The top 10 is possible next season - and I see no reason why we can't go on to do even better than that.

"If we can establish ourselves in the top half of the table early on in the season then we will give ourselves a much better chance of still being there come May."

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