Middlesbrough have one of the best squads in the Championship as they aim for promotion this season after the disappointment of last season.

They were beaten 2-0 by Norwich in the play-off final at Wembley and there top goalscorer and Championship Player of the Year, Patrick Bamford, returned to Chelsea.

Middlesbrough attempted to rebuild in the summer as they did lose a lot of attacking talent in the shape of Tomlin, Vossen and Bamford.

In the summer they added goalscorers Christian Stuani and David Nugent. They also added big money signing Stewart Downing to their promotion pushing squad as Gibson put his money where his mouth is.

Middlesbrough started the season well building the team on the solid defensive foundations of last season, they had the best defence in the league last year and Hull are the only team with a better one this season. Ayala and Gibson have been crucial to this with the 2 young centre-backs almost unbeatable when playing together.

Middlesbrough were top and clear in January but have suffered a mini-slump recently with losses to lowly Charlton and Rotherham. This caused discontent in the squad with manager Aitor Karanka questioning if the squad really want promotion as much as he does.

The addition of prolific striker Jordan Rhodes in January has proved unsuccessful so far as he only has one goal but there is still time. Recently talk has been rife of Karanka's departure due to his anger at the lack of effort shown by first teamers like Downing and wasn't in charge for the weekend defeat at Charlton.

Thankfully this has been resolved and he will be in charge for the rest of the season. Whether Middlesbrough will be in the Championship or the Premier League next season they will need breakout stars and here are 5 Middlesbrough players that could be stars next season:

[ffc-gallery]

PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE PLAYERS!

[/ffc-gallery]

Dael Fry

The 18-year-old centre-back is one of the brightest young prospects in the Championship and has seen entrusted by the manager to fill the gap left by the injured Daniel Ayala.

Middlesbrough had the best defence in the league last season with Ayala and Ben Gibson crucial to this and whenever one of them had a spell on the sidelines the backline would suffer. But this season Karanka has entrusted the teenager to provide adequate cover when one is injured and he has been solid so far.

Keeping a clean sheet at Preston in his first full game has has looked a bit shaky recently but so have the whole Middlesbrough side. He has represented England at all available youth levels to him and he has a big future in the game and a big part to play still this season and probably next season.

Harry Chapman

The Middlesbrough winger is another great 18-year-old prospect who has impressed for Middlesbrough at youth levels.

There have even been calls for him to get starts in the Middlesbrough first team due to the inconsistencies of Stewart Downing and Albert Adomah and the dazzling displays of Chapman in the UEFA Youth League in which Middlesbrough made the quarter finals.

Chapman has been given more time to develop by Karanka and was loaned out to Barnsley for the rest of the season who are challenging for promotion in League One. He made Team of the Week in his first start there and the pacy winger is already impressing Barnsley fans.

Daniel Ayala

He is probably Middlesbrough's best player and the best centre-back in the Championship but one feels he will not get the credit he deserves unless Middlesbrough get promoted.

If Middlesbrough do get in the Premier League they will be heavily reliant on the form of there backline. They currently have the second best defence in the Championship and it will be the job of Ayala and Gibson to hold the defence together next season if they go up.

He will prove that he is Premier League quality and maybe get into the Spain squad fold.

Julien De Sart

The young Belgian midfielder came in under the radar as he was signed on the same day as Jordan Rhodes and Richie De Laet.

The 20-year-old racked up over 60 appearances for top Belgian side Standard Liege as well as playing for Belgium at every youth level and is currently active in there U21 side.

He moved to Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee and the holding midfielder hasn't been given much of a chance yet as the Leadbitter-Clayton monopoly in the middle of the park is hard to break but Forshaw managed it and De Sart surely will next season if one of them gets injured.

Carlos De Pena

His impressive form for Uruguayan side Nacional earned him a summer move to Middlesbrough for around £3m and he has endured a slow start to his Middlesbrough career.

He has no goals so far but is not being used in the first team currently as he has failed to impress. It will take De Pena a bit of time to adapt to the English game but his record speaks for itself and the pacy winger will be important next season if he successfully adapts.

There is talk of a possible loan move to get him some invaluable first team football.

Any other top prospects to look out for next season Middlesbrough fans? Leave thoughts and opinions below!