AITOR KARANKA was desperate for a different goalkeeper to increase competition for places as he looks to make Middlesbrough a tighter unit in the Championship – and he is no mood to offer long-term guarantees.

The Boro boss remains confident that young Spaniard Tomas Mejias, signed from Real Madrid this summer, can be a success on Teesside yet he still drafted in Chelsea prospect Jamal Blackman on deadline day to replace the departed Jason Steele.

Blackman is unlikely to have received permission to leave Stamford Bridge by Jose Mourinho to play the role of understudy to Mejias and Dimi Konstantopoulos, so many are expecting him to start between the posts at Huddersfield this Saturday.

Karanka has claimed the situation is not as cut and dried as Blackman becoming the automatic choice to play in goal for Middlesbrough, although he will be desperate to prove himself on Teesside before his loan comes to an end in January.

After watching Middlesbrough fail to keep a clean sheet in the league since the opening day win over a toothless Birmingham City, the Spanish boss was keen for a fresh face – just as he would have done had it been any other position.

“Jamal’s a young lad and for me the goalkeeper position is very important,” said Karanka. “If one striker isn’t scoring goals you bring another one in and the team is the same but with the keeper you have to be careful because it’s a different position. Now we have three other keepers in Connor Ripley, Tomas and Dimi too.”

Mejias’ position has been under scrutiny after a less than convincing start to the campaign. The 25-year-old’s handling has been questionable, but he has the confidence of the manager and goalkeeper coach Leo Percovich to fulfil his potential at the club.

The former Real Madrid youngster’s arrival on a permanent arrangement in the summer was ultimately what led to the departure of Jason Steele before transfer deadline day.

Steele, 24, brought an end more than a decade at Middlesbrough when he joined Blackburn on loan and he is extremely unlikely to return because he is out of contract next summer. Freeing up the wages he commands presented Karanka with the opportunity to bring in Blackman.

Karanka hopes Steele will shine after leaving the club. He said: “I don’t know about Jason Steele because he only played for 30 minutes with me against Leeds last year. For me we thought his situation would be better to go and play at Blackburn. I have no doubts that he’s good enough to play here but he needs to regain his confidence and show he can play here.”

Blackman is regarded highly in England quarters and he was on the bench, along with new Boro team-mate Ben Gibson, last night for the England Under-21s’ European Championships qualifier in Moldova. Gareth Southgate’s side had already qualified for the Euro play-offs next month.

Former Middlesbrough defender Emmanuel Pogatetz, meanwhile, has moved to the United States to play in the MLS with Columbus Crew. The 31-year-old left Nuremberg in the summer and has been looking for a new club as a free agent.

It has emerged that Middlesbrough will be backed by a significant away following at Huddersfield this weekend. More than 2,400 tickets have already been sold for the trip to the John Smith’s Stadium and there are still tickets remaining.