AITOR KARANKA is delighted to have completed the loan signing of Milos Veljkovic, with the teenager’s versatility having been a key factor in the Middlesbrough head coach’s decision to bring him to the Riverside.

Veljkovic signed on loan from Tottenham until mid-January this morning, and immediately took part in his first training session with his new Boro team-mates.

The 19-year-old, who is a Serbia Under-19 international, can play in both defence and midfield, and his arrival further bolsters Boro’s resources in both positions.

It remains to be seen whether he is part of the squad that travels to Brighton on Saturday, but Karanka expects him to make a positive impact during his time on Teesside.

“He is a very young lad, but he has very high potential,” said the Boro boss. “He can play as a central defender and as a midfielder.

“I had a long chat with his manager (Mauricio Pochettino) because I have a very good relationship with him, and we thought that for Tottenham, for us and for the player it was best that he joined us.

“I think it is going to be important for him because the chance to be involved with a professional team, where he is going to have chances to play, will help his development and be good.

“It will also be good for us because we need a player who can play in the midfield and as a central defender.”

Veljkovic joins his Tottenham team-mate Ryan Fredericks, who is already on loan at Boro, and becomes the fifth Premier League loan player on the Teessiders’ books.

All of Boro’s international players have returned from this week’s international break with no problems, so Karanka has a strong squad to choose from as he ponders his starting line-up for the Amex Stadium.

Damia Abella, Jonathan Woodgate, Rhys Williams and Muzzy Carayol remain the long-term absentees.

Prior to the international break, Boro were on a six-game unbeaten run in the league, but Karanka was happy to give his players a chance to reduce their workload after a hectic schedule in the previous four weeks.

“It was good because we had last week, not so much to rest, but to recover,” he said. “The last month was crazy with a lot of games so the first week of the break was used to recover and rest a little bit.

“I am pleased with the second week because we have been able to train on the pitch very well with all the players.”