Silk and steel is the way to go for Edwards

ROB Edwards has offered insight into how he wants his Middlesbrough side to look - with some key components that Boro fans will surely love.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

How Edwards will set Boro up has been a big talking point since it emerged a week ago that the former Luton Town boss was the preferred candidate to replace Michael Carrick.

Making the most of the players he had at Kenilworth Road, he played a very different style to the one Boro played under Carrick to earn promotion to the Premier League.

While Edwards didn't want to give too much away about exactly how he hopes to have his Boro side looking come the start of the new Championship season including whether he will stick with his preferred wing-back system he did offer an insight into the kind of football we can expect under Edwards if he is able to get the team playing as he wants.

"I want to ask players to do what they're good at doing and what they're comfortable doing," he said, suggesting his style will be adapted to suit the players he inherits on Teesside.

"That doesn't mean we won't stretch them and challenge them of course we're going to do that.

"I want my teams to be aggressive and on the front foot. I want us to play with bravery. I want control; I want complete control ideally, but as far away from our goal as possible. Action. That's what I want.

"I don't know a fanbase that wouldn't want to play with passion and emotion, working very hard and winning duels.