Middlesbrough's new signings Juninho, Massimo Maccarone, and George Boateng celebrate against Alaves (Photo/Empics)

But after getting 45 minutes under his belt for his new club at Bradford on Monday and then a further 75 in the 3-2 win over Alaves on Wednesday in which he scored on his home debut, there is a smile back of the face of the Ghana-born player.

'I was glad everything was concluded and I could get on with playing football again,' he told the club's official website. 'The game on Wednesday in particular was a good exercise.

'Things are going well now. It's always difficult to settle in when you move clubs and the earlier you start to turn in good performances, the better.

'So far, so good. There is still a long way to go before I can say I'm playing my part in a good team. We have only just come together and have a lot of work to do, but wins are always handy and we have been okay in pre-season.

'I want to impress as quickly as I can and I would love to get off to a good start. That always helps you settle in.'

Boateng admits he is looking forward to the task of linking up with Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho as Steve McClaren looks for greater creativity from his team, but is confident he can do just that by replicating the partnership he had at Villa Park with Paul Merson.

'He is quick and has good skills,' he said of the South American. 'He has good vision and I feel the partnership between myself and him will be very important for Middlesbrough this coming season.

'It will be similar, I think, to the way I played with Paul Merson at Aston Villa, where he played just in front of me. But to have a player like that in the team, I think, is very, very handy.'

Meanwhile, the club gave their fans a pat on the back today after Home Office figures revealed that only 52 were arrested at the Riverside Stadium last season.

The figure represents a fall of more than half on the previous season's level of 105.

'These are very positive figures, though in many ways they only confirm what we already knew - that Boro supporters are among the best in the country,' said media and communications manager Dave Allan.

'Through a close partnership with the police, we are committed to stamping out all forms of anti-social behaviour. As a consequence, the stadium itself is almost trouble-free.

'In fact, the vast majority of the arrests were not for hooliganism, but drink-related offences, such as trying to enter a football stadium whilst drunk.