The Turkish star did not score his first goal until December following his summer switch from Fenerbahce but he now has five to his name and is quickly becoming a firm fans' favourite.

One of Tuncay's best strikes was stunning volley at Derby and he admits it was a special goal.

"That goal at Derby made me very happy," he explained.

"It was my third goal in three games and it was definitely the best of them. It was a very special goal.

"I felt I had arrived in English football after that.

"Football in Turkey and here are very different and it takes time to settle. The first two months were very hard but I was never worried. I always knew it would take time.

"The big difference is that in Turkey, one week you have a very hard game and the next can be very easy but that does not happen in England.

"Before I left Turkey, I always watched English football and enjoyed it but I didn't realise just how different it was to play in.

"It is stronger and faster than I realised just watching it."

Tuncay admits Boro's recent FA Cup defeat to Cardiff was a huge disappointment but he insists the fans have been great to him and his team-mates.

"Middlesbrough fans are more tolerant and calmer. They are more understanding and forgiving. Of course, they want us to win every game but they understand," he said.

"If you did not win a game with Fenerbahce, it was a problem because the fans expect you to win every game.

"That is not the case at Boro. If you do not win, there is always the next game.

"I am playing with and against top footballers every week and it is improving my game. I realise the Middlesbrough fans are not happy with us for going out of the FA Cup but it is not like Istanbul.

"It might take the Middlesbrough fans a long time to forgive us for that defeat but over there, when you are out in the street, they get angry with you.

"Two seasons ago with Fenerbahce, on the last day, we drew and Galatasaray won. We were not the champions and that was a big problem. We could not leave the stadium for two hours and did not go out in Istanbul for a few days."