Middlesbrough vs Crystal Palace - Aitor Karanka tells Middlesbrough to reset and start again

Aitor Karanka has told Middlesbrough they must start their season all over again if they are to keep their Premier League survival mission on track.

The top-flight newcomers have been far from daunted by life among the big boys during the early weeks of the campaign and have collected five points from the first nine on offer as they look to ensure they remain exactly where they are.

However, Karanka has warned his players things could change markedly in just a few weeks if they do not hit the ground running once again after the international break, starting with Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace to the Riverside Stadium.

Asked if he would have taken that start if offered it back in August, the Spaniard replied: "I don't know. We knew we had three important games and for that reason, we needed to have the squad as soon as possible.

"We knew that games like West Brom, Sunderland - maybe not Stoke - but all of them were our rivals in the league and for that reason to be in the table with five points is really important for us.

"Now it's Crystal Palace and there are another three points [at stake] and now we are in a really good position.

"But I don't have to forget in one week, two weeks, everything can change. For that reason, we have to forget the past, we have to focus on the next game, and then on the next one and the next one."

The Boro squad has been boosted further since the club's last outing, a 0-0 draw at West Brom, with Calum Chambers having arrived on a season-long loan deal from Arsenal and Adama Traore on a permanent move from Aston Villa, completing an overhaul which has given Karanka a range of options.

He admits that presents him with a selection headache and the task of keeping players who are not in his team happy, although he insists he wants those men to be upset.

He said: "It's my job and it's the most difficult thing, to try to have all of them happy because I don't want players in my team who are not playing and they are happy.

"When you are not playing, you have to be upset and you have to be always trying to play.

"But it's my job. When I sign players, I sign good players and good people, I try to explain to them why they are not playing and why they are playing."

Meanwhile, Alan Pardew has revealed Jonathan Benteke is in contention to make his Crystal Palace debut at Middlesbrough.

The little-known striker arrived at the club from Zulte Waregem for a nominal fee shortly after his older brother Christian became Palace's club record signing for B#27.5million.

Christian Benteke is expected to start the Middlesbrough game, setting up the possibility of the brothers playing together at some stage.

A thigh injury suffered by fellow new signing Loic Remy has limited Pardew's attacking options for Saturday's Premier League fixture.

Remy has been ruled out for the coming seven or eight weeks having only just arrived on loan from Chelsea, and Jonathan Benteke, 21, could benefit with an unexpected chance.

"I will be taking him this weekend," said Pardew, who remains in pursuit of a first league victory of the season.

"He is a young striker with natural talent, and they are not easy to find.

"This (transfer) was because of Christian, he highlighted him to us. We checked him out and liked the look of him. It was not a big fee so he comes here under no pressure. He might surprise one or two hopefully."

On Remy, Pardew said: "(He has) a tear in his thigh. It is an area where recovery is difficult. We have to be careful. We are so disappointed because he looked great. It was a very innocuous moment on the training ground.

"Sadly that happens. Fortunately we have enough cover to cope without him for this period. Seven or eight weeks he is going to have to be out. But we have had good negotiations with Chelsea."

Mathieu Flamini on Thursday became Pardew's latest recruit when arriving on a free transfer until the end of the season, and the former Arsenal player will also travel to the Riverside Stadium.

The manager refused to reveal if Flamini would start, owing to concerns over a potential lack of match fitness, but he has fitness doubts over fellow midfielders Yohan Cabaye and James McArthur. Bakary Sako is a further doubt, while Fraizer Campbell has been ruled out.

Asked if the 32-year-old Flamini was ready, Pardew said: "Physically he is. He is very fit but whether he is up to game speed I do not know.

"I am going to take him this weekend because his knowledge, and having him around, will be like having another coach."