Aitor Karanka has told Middlesbrough’s official site that Albert Adomah was brilliant against Cardiff City last night.

Adomah started for Boro as they cruised to a 3-1 success at the Riverside Stadium, and he was one of the main tormentors of the Welsh side’s defence.

Cardiff never got to grips with the 28-year-old’s pace and trickery, and Karanka only had praise for the wide-man after the match.

"Albert Adomah never gets tired, he’s a runner," the Spanish boss said. "Tonight he was the Albert I like to see, he knows how important he is to the team and that is what it is about, the team.”

Adomah has played 32 times for Middlesbrough so far this campaign, but his role in the team was placed under scrutiny earlier this month.

Karanka dropped Adomah from Middlesbrough’s squad which faced Milton Keynes Dons for ‘tactical reasons’, leaving question marks over whether the Ghanian had fallen out of favour.

Middlesbrough brought in five new players in the January transfer window, and strengthened their attacking options considerably.

However, it now seems that Adomah still has a part to play, as Middlesbrough aim to get promotion from the Championship.

Karanka’s side are currently in third place in the second tier standings, but they do have games in hand on all of their closest rivals in the bid for promotion.