Newly appointed Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate wants to get the best out of striker Britt Assombalonga despite rumours linking the striker with a move elsewhere, The Teeside Gazette have reported.

Assombalonga enjoyed an impressive campaign in the Championship again last season, top scoring for the club with 14 goals in 42 league appearances for a side that scored just 49 goals in total last season - the fourth lowest in the division.

Those performances have seen Assomablonga linked with a number of sides, with the Northern Echo reporting that newly promoted Sheffield United, along with 'Boro's Championship rivals Blackburn, Bristol City and Birmingham are all interested in the striker.

Woodgate, however, is apparently keen to build on Assomablonga's performances this season and get the best out of the striker in the coming campaign, despite the fact that the club are also keen to sign a striker in the summer transfer window as they look to build on their seventh placed finish last season.

With two years remaining on his contract at The Riverside Stadium, 'Boro are not under any huge pressure to sell Assombalonga in the current transfer window.

The Verdict

This is a promising sign for 'Boro.

When you look at Assombalonga's goalscoring record last season in comparison to the rest of the club's squad, it quickly becomes clear just how important he is to this 'Boro side, so the fact that they have no intention of letting him go will be a big relief for 'Boro fans.

With Robbie Keane now coming into the club's backroom staff alongside Woodgate, you can't help but feel that the potential is certainly there for Assombalonga to develop his game even further under the new management setup at the Riverside.