JONATHAN WOODGATE says he does not deserve to play a prominent role in Middlesbrough’s promotion push, despite producing a stand-out performance on his first start for over five months.

Woodgate got the crucial opening goal in Tuesday night’s win over Blackpool, which saw Boro claim top spot in the Championship after Derby drew with Bournemouth.

The 35-year-old was a surprise starter at Bloomfield Road having featured only once this season, but the former Real Madrid defender demonstrated why head coach Aitor Karanka is so keen to have him around.

Woodgate still has plenty to offer as the Teessiders push for promotion to the Premier League over the next couple of months, but he does not expect to nail down a regular place.

The central-back struggled for fitness at the beginning of the season, but despite being fit for selection for some time the performances of Ben Gibson, Daniel Ayala and Kenneth Omeruo have kept him in the background.

While his body may not allow him to play regularly, Woodgate insists he wouldn’t deserve a starting place anyway.

“I am at the age now where I look at the bigger picture. It’s not all about me, it’s about the team," he said.

“The young lads – Ben, Ken and Dani – whoever is playing at the back is doing fantastic.

“I don’t deserve to play when they are playing that well so for me I’ve got no complaints.

“They are doing their job and if Middlesbrough get in the Premier, job done. If I don’t play, I don’t play. You get disappointed, but it’s all about the bigger picture.

“You don’t like being left out but you have to look at the bigger picture. Just because I’ve played wherever I have played it doesn’t mean that I demand a start. No way, and I wouldn’t expect that.”

With Boro boasting the joint-second best defensive record in the top four leagues in the country, the defender has a point but he insists he is just happy to soak up the buzz around the town.

He said: “It’s great, especially being from Middlesbrough. It’s fantastic, especially when you see the fans.

“The away fans are tremendous and they are the best in the country by far. This club needs to get to the top again.”

Going top on Tuesday could prove to be a pivotal point in Middlesbrough’s season, but Woodgate insists the players won’t be getting carried away.

Karanka’s side face crucial back-to-back trips to Derby and Bournemouth next month and although there were big celebrations from the travelling fans at Bloomfield Road, the defender gave a reminder that nothing has been achieved yet.

“I don’t even think we will look at the league table,” he said. “I know many people will. Maybe towards the end we will have a little glimpse, but for me I won’t even look at it or think we are top.

“There’s no pressure. We’ll just play like we have done and plough on.

“We knew this was a big game. These are the games you have to win to win leagues, because it’s not a very good pitch. It’s small, tight and there are lots of long balls. That’s what wins you leagues.

“That’s where we want to stay, but there’s a long way to go. We are top now but it means absolutely nothing.

“Let’s not be getting carried away and excited because there’s a long way to go. We’ve got so many games to come. We are pushing in the right direction and we’re doing well, but we can still improve and get better.”

Boro have received a boost ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Arsenal with the news that Alexis Sanchez was injured in the Gunners’ 2-1 win over Leicester City.

The top scorer will miss the game at the Emirates along with Aaron Ramsay, although Karanka could be without Ayala, who hobbled off injured against the Tangerines.