Young skippered the side against Carlisle on Tuesday.

Middlesbrough defender Luke Young says the side will accept nothing less than a top-half finish this season.

After a poor start the Teessiders improved in the latter part of 2007/08 and Young feels the current squad is now stronger ahead of the new campaign.

"We want to finish 10th and above in the Premier League, we are looking to progress," he told BBC Tees.

"There's a lot of hunger in the squad, everyone wants to be in the team and the competition for places helps."

Pre-season has been busy for Boro so far with their involvement in the Algarve Challenge Cup and trips to Carlisle and York.

For Young, the intensive training is a necessary evil to ensure they are fully prepared for the start of the Premier League season.

"All the pre-season really is gearing up to that first game. In my mind that's what I've been looking at throughout." he said.

"All the running sessions we've been doing I know why we're doing it because we've got to be sharp come the first day of the season."

Young moved to the North East from Charlton for �2.5m in July 2007 following the Addicks' relegation to the Championship.