Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has hailed his new captain marvel Emanuel Pogatetz as his side prepare to face Chelsea on Sunday.Southgate believes the Austrian's recent return from injury and the decision to hand him the armband have played a major part in Boro's scramble towards Premier League safety.

Pogatetz has cut an imposing figure alongside youngster David Wheater in the middle of the Boro defence this season and is the kind of man Southgate believes can fashion a stunning victory against the title chasers.

Southgate said: "Emanuel coming back from injury away at Bolton was an important part of the season for us.

"His will to win, his desire and his general attitude and leadership has always been important, and I think wearing the armband for the last few weeks has given him the confidence to say things he feels are important.

"Players like George Boateng play the game the same way whether they are captain or not. With Manny he probably needed the confidence of wearing the armband to say certain things.

"You need five or six leaders in your team and we are certainly starting to get more people to step forward into those roles."

Pogatetz has emerged as one of the success stories of Boro's inconsistent season and is plainly relishing his increasingly important role at the Riverside Stadium.

He said: "The great thing about going into the Chelsea and Manchester United games now is that no-one expects us to get anything out of the games. But if we do that I think we are very close to safety.

"It took a bit of time for our confidence to come back after the Cardiff game (they lost 2-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals) but we are feeling good now. We know we're a good team and we know we can go to Chelsea and cause an upset."

Boro boss Gareth Southgate will once again be without suspended pair Mido and Fabio Rochemback, while Robert Huth is a major doubt after missing Germany's midweek clash against Switzerland with a foot injury.

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