First day back at school for many Boro favourites

ROB Edwards has warned there could be some teething issues during pre-season as he sets about instilling a new style of play at Middlesbrough this summer.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

The majority of Boro players returned to Rockliffe yesterday for the first day of pre-season and the physical testing stage of the summer.

As well as plenty of time on the training pitches at Rockliffe to work on a new set-up, Edwards and his players will also head to Portugal for a week next month in a trip that's expected to end with a training match, while there are currently four pre-season friendlies confirmed and the potential for one more to be added.

In setting out a clear vision for how he wants his Boro side to look, Edwards has already suggested that there will be some key differences to the way in which predecessor Michael Carrick set up his side.

But with new ideas to get across, Edwards will be patient to get the implementation he'll want in the first game of the season.