Former Newcastle keeper Shay Given has heaped praise on the work Tony Pulis has done since taking over at Middlesbrough.

The North East side are gearing up to face Aston Villa in the play-offs tomorrow after a strong end to the season under the ex-West Brom boss that saw them confirm their place with a game to spare.

And Given told 888 Sport that the manager deserves a lot of plaudits for taking on a job in the Championship given his past work.

"They’re a huge club with a great owner in Steve Gibson and credit to Tony Pulis because he became known for keeping teams in the Premier League but he was willing to take a step down."

Whilst he praised Boro and the way they've turned things around, Given is expecting a very tough battle for the Teesside outfit against his former club Aston Villa.

"I don’t know how Tony Pulis works but Boro have a great chance, of course they have. He has turned them around results wise but it’s a tough semi-final against Villa."

The Verdict

It's never easy for a manager to take over mid-season but that's what Pulis had to do and he has done a fine job.

He quickly found a formation and style that worked, importantly getting the best out of Adama Traore and Boro haven't looked back since.

Now, it's all about beating Villa in what is a massive game for both clubs but Boro won't be fearing the West Midlands side because of how they've played under Pulis.

Read the full 888sport interview with Shay Given, including what it's like to play in an FA Cup final.