Middlesbrough skipper Matthew Bates has urged the club's fans to give new signing Lukas Jutkiewicz time to prove himself.

Jutkiewicz, a transfer-window signing from Coventry, could make his full debut for the club in Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round trip to Sunderland.

Bates told the Evening Gazette: "Lukas is still very young - he's only 22 and people sometimes forget that because they see the build of the guy. He could be a real monster by the time he's finished.

"But let's not build up the pressure on him, let him find his feet and I'm sure he will be a great signing for us. If we sling the ball into the box, he's more than likely going to get his head on it.

"We will see that on Sunday if he's involved, which I'm sure he will be. It will be a good game for him to start his first one against Sunderland in the FA Cup, and let's hope he can score some goals for us."