Arca ready to inspire

Julio Arca insists he is ready to become Middlesbrough's midfield inspiration.

Boro have struggled to find a central-midfielder with attacking capabilities ever since Bolo Zenden departed for Liverpool in 2005.

Fabio Rochemback was lured to the club from Sporting Lisbon, but he has failed to fill the void - but now Arca is ready to lay claim to the spot.

The former Sunderland man was one of the stars as Boro beat Charlton 2-0 on Saturday and in the process he bagged his first goal for the club. 

"It was good to play in the free role behind the strikers," said the Argentine.

"It is something I like because I am getting more involved in the game.

"I only played once or twice in six years at Sunderland in that role, but it is something that suits me.

"It is a position you have to work harder and I will do the best I can.

"George Boateng does a lot of hard work behind me and I am supposed to be the one who plays and knocks the ball around.

"A creative midfielder is the type of player the manager has been looking for and I want to do well in there, do things right and stay in the team.

"The more me and George play together the more we will understand each other."