Boro's Coyne hails Pears' impact

Coyne has 10 caps for Wales, having made his international debut in 2002

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Danny Coyne has hailed goalkeeping coach Stephen Pears for getting him up to match sharpness during pre-season.

Welsh international Coyne, 35, joined the club from League One side Tranmere and impressed on his last-minute debut against Sheffield United on Friday.

"Stephen was a similar frame and stature to myself so he understands the smaller goalkeeper," he told BBC Tees.

"Training's been good and I feel really sharp for the games."

Coyne is now preparing for his second start for the Teesiders after stepping in for the injured Brad Jones against the Blades, against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

And the Prestatyn-born stopper expects to see an exciting match, with both sides hoping to play attractive football.

"We need to get as many wins as possible, and Saturday we're looking at starting off with three points," he added.

"It's going to be a tough game, the new manager's come in, but the ethic is the same, they like to play football.

"The manager has seen them play and they do open the pitch up and try to pass it about, it's a good game to play in."

Since joining Tranmere as a trainee, Coyne has gone onto represent five league clubs, including a spell in the Premier League with Leicester and several years of Championship football with Grimsby and Burnley, and has ten Wales caps.