No old pals act for George - Taylor

Andrew Taylor has admitted that several Boro players have been texting old boy George Boateng ahead of Saturday's trip to face Hull.

The Middlesbrough left-back is a big friend of the veteran Dutch midfielder following his six-year spell at the Riverside, but he is looking forward to facing him when Boro travel to face his current side at the KC Stadium this weekend.

Boateng has played a key role in guiding Hull into the top-six so far this season, but Taylor is hoping to get one over his pal and help Boro get back to winning ways.

He told the Gazette: "The text messages have been flying to and fro all week between me and Georgie B. I have been teasing the old man.

"It's only a bit of banter. I know a few of the lads have been texting him as well, letting him know we are coming to get him.

"I am really looking forward to tangling with him. George is a nice guy and was very popular with the lads here but we'll be putting that aside come kick-off.

"We know what we'll get down there from George. He is a real competitor and will be really fired up and busting a gut to put one over on us.

"We know he will put his foot in and will battle for every ball but we also know we are capable of matching that on the day.

"Hull have had a great start in the Premier League and it one of their local games so they will be buzzing. It will be tough but we believe we can go down there and win."

He added: "Bolton aside, we have played very well lately. Especially away from home. We have got points at Villa and Everton and they are good teams and tough places to go.

"We have only lost one out of the last seven and that's not bad but we need to build on that now because it's a very tight league.

"We need to go on another run and keep clocking up points and turning draws into wins. Bolton have shown what you can do. They were bottom but now they are above us in the table with three wins.

"We've had a good run ourselves apart from the set-back against Bolton. If we can start putting another run like that again together we can get where we want to be.

"And that makes Hull an important game. These are the games that if we want to progress up the league then we really have to get something."