Middlesbrough are up there as one of the promotion favourites again this season and like every other team in this position, have a strong squad laden with young talent and experience alike. But who exactly is Middlesbrough's best player?

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Who is Boro's most important player?

Middlesbrough had the best defence in the Championship last season and they have already made an industrious start to this one.

Centre back Daniel Ayala has been a revelation since his move from Norwich and is regarded as one of the best centre backs in the Championship, and also made team of the season last year.

Centre back partner Ben Gibson has been equally impressive since his promotion from the academy and has attracted big name clubs since his breakthrough last year.

George Friend at left back is a fan favourite and regarded as the best left-back at this level and has been a model of consistency at this level earning praise and interest from the Premier League.

Right back is a position Middlesbrough have never got tied down with Nsue and Kalas jostling for the role, both show great ability on their day but are too inconsistent to make the place there own.

The Boro engine room of Leadbitter and Clayton attracted a lot of praise last year for controlling games on there own and being the main reason for Middlesbrough's emergence as promotion candidate,s but have copped criticism this season for being too defensively minded and some fans have called for the more attacking Forshaw to get his chance in the centre of midfield.

Downing of course oozes Premier League class as his performance against Wolves showed this season that on his day he is the best player in the division.

But he has endured a mainly disappointing season as has fellow winger Albert Adomah long considered our best player, he struggled last season and regularly went missing in games, but this season he has showed signs of recapturing the form that made him a Boro target in the first place.

Fabbrini of course has been superb since joining on loan from Watford with his impressive technical ability and skill, and has scored important goals for Middlesbrough this season and De Pena also shows signs of becoming a good player.

Nugent always gives 110% up top and has a good record at this level and will be crucial if Middlesbrough are going to be successful this season.

Kike also gives it his all but attracts a lot of criticism in games for going missing and not holding the ball up well enough.

Stuani with an impressive La Liga record seems to be making a good transition to English football but is struggling to bag league goals at the moment.

The question will split a lot of opinion but I think it has to be Ayala.

The biggest turnaround we've seen under Karanka is the defence has become the meanest in the league and Ayala has consistently been a rock at the back.

Even Gibson has his purple patches like he is right now but Ayala seems a model of consistency never faltering for the Middlesbrough back line, and he is the most crucial component of Middlesbrough's promotion surge last season and certainly this season.

So.... What do you think Boro fans? Who is our best player ? Leave thoughts and opinions below!