'Super' Middlesbrough fanbase will be inspiring Emmanuel Latte Lath to go again next season

Emmanuel Latte Lath is hoping he can take his end-of-season form into next term and help fire Middlesbrough to a top-six finish - with the clubs 'super' fans inspiring him in that quest.

The Ivorian enjoyed a topsy-turvy first year at the Riverside, but having taking time to adjust to the Championship - both physically and mentally - he returned from injury to finish the season in superb form. He netted 11 goals in 12 games as Boro ended in promotion-worthy form with just one defeat in that period.

Boss Michael Carrick has made clear that the goal next season is to now challenge for promotion - and he has expressed his hope that Latte Lath, 25, uses all of the experience gained in his first Championship season to be the talisman for them next term. Having danced on the Riverside pitch after the final game while Boro fans sang his song, the striker is now hungry to deliver more for them.

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Speaking just moments after that warming moment at full-time following the victory over Watford in the final day, Latte Lath told BBC Tees: “I can't explain how good it feels to have the fans singing my name, it’s just a special feeling inside. I'm really happy because they are super fans. I hope for them that next year we can do better than this year.

"I’m really happy because it’s been a hard season for me. It was a hard beginning to the season with my injuries. But it ends in a good way and I have to thank my team-mates for how much they’ve helped me. It's a big shame that we didn't get play-offs.

"I didn't want the season to end, we didn't want to stop our good form. But we can take pride in the good things we did and carry them into next season. Now we take a bit of a break and we’ll go again next year."