Gareth Southgate has told fans they will push for more goals this season

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has told fans to expect a positive approach from his players in Saturday's season's opener at home to Tottenham.

The 8-1 home win against Manchester City ended last season on a high and Southgate wants to see more results of that nature during this campaign.

"We're intending to attack, and to play winning football," he told BBC Tees.

"We know we have to be defensively organised but we have principles about how we want the game to be played."

Pivotal to Boro's attacking efforts in that win against City in May was Brazilian striker Afonso Alves, who helped himself to a hat-trick.

And Southgate is confident that the striker, who broke Middlesbrough's transfer record when he joined from Heerenveen last season, is ready to fire the club to success this season.

"We've got a goal threat throughout our team and Alves looks full of goals," he said.

"He's got four in the last two games. One of the goals in Rotterdam was a phenomenal chip.

"It's quite good that not many of our goals have been shown. We've quietly gone about our job and we're really relishing this game against Tottenham."