Middlesbrough have certainly started the Sky Bet Championship well this season but defender Aden Flint is well aware of the challenge that those close to them offer.

Boro are level on points at the top of the league with Leeds United as things stand whilst the likes of Swansea City and West Brom are not too far in behind that.

Certainly, things are already looking competitive up at the top of the league and Boro are now set to face two stiff challenges as they take on West Brom and Leeds United in their next pair of games in the league.

And, for Flint, both have impressed with him particularly singling out Leeds' start as something that should be praised.

As quoted by Gazette Live, he said:

"We all know that in West Brom and Leeds we have two massive games now and we have to raise the bar again.

"Leeds have started well too and got that little bit of momentum so that will be a real challenge too.

“We are all a couple of games in now and a few teams are starting to settle but we can’t worry about that too much."

The Verdict

Clearly, Flint has been impressed with what he has seen by those sides around Middlesbrough but, equally, the men from Teesside have also caught the eye.

It is still early on in the season, of course, but both of these games could well play a big part in where the honours go at the end of the campaign.

The Riverside outfit, then, will be looking to put out some big statements in the coming weeks.