Meet the opposition | Middlesbrough
As Swansea City prepare to take on Middlesbrough, we take a closer look at the Teessiders.
WHAT'S THEIR STORY?
Having spent all bar one season between 1995 and 2009 in the Premier League - with a best finish of seventh in 2005 - Middlesbrough have been in the Championship for 15 of the 16 campaigns since.
A brief return to the top-flight in 2016 saw them struggle in front of goal, coming straight back down with only five wins and 27 goals, the lowest tally recorded during that season.
They reached the play-offs in 2018 and 2023, and will be hoping to return this season after missing out in each of the last two campaigns.
Boro famously reached the UEFA Cup final in 2006 while, in a successful 2004-05 season, they secured League Cup glory by beating Bolton in Cardiff.
HOW'S THEIR FORM?
Boro endured a tough end to last season, with a run of one win from their final six games ensuring they missed out on a top-six finish.
They recorded four draws and two defeats over pre-season but, as everyone knows, such results are no representation of how teams will fare when the serious business starts.
WHO'S THE GAFFER?
Rob Edwards. The former defender took over at the Riverside during the summer, following the departure of Michael Carrick.
The former defender has been in charge of Luton since November 2022 succeeding Nathan Jones when the Welshman made the switch to Southampton.
The 42-year-old started his playing career with Aston Villa, and went on to have spells with Crystal Palace, Derby County, Wolves, Blackpool, Norwich, Barnsley, Fleetwood and Shrewsbury before moving into coaching at Molineux after being forced to hang up his boots by injury.
He had stints with Telford and with the England youth set-up before becoming Forest Green Rovers boss in the summer of 2021 and leading them to promotion to League One.
That attracted the attention of Watford, who moved for the ex-Wales international to lead their efforts for an instant return to the Premier League.
However, he was barely given any time at Vicarage Road, and Luton benefited when he took the reins for the Hatters and led them to the Premier League via a dramatic play-off final win over Coventry City.
Relegation followed at the end of that solitary top-flight season, and Edwards departed Kenilworth Road with Luton on their way to a second-successive relegation last term.
WHO'S THE CAPTAIN?
Edwards has shared the armband around his squad during pre-season, with previous incumbent Jonny Howson having left the club after eight years on Teesside.
Dael Fry and Hayden Hackney have been among those to lead the side but, at the time of writing, a club captain has not been announced.
WHO ARE THE KEY MEN?
Finn Azaz
Midfielder Finn Azaz was simply outstanding for Boro last season, racking up double figures for goals and assists.
The Republic of Ireland international was first snapped up by West Bromwich Albion as a nine-year-old and progressed through their academy before having a productive campaign on loan at Cheltenham Town.
That attracted the interest of Aston Villa, and he made the move to the Villans in 2021 and was soon loaned out to Newport County for the 2021-22 season.
His excellent performances for the Exiles saw him named League Two Young Player of the Year at the EFL awards, and he spent the next season and a half making a positive impression with Plymouth Argyle.
That prompted Boro to move for his services, sealing a permanent move in January 2024, and he has been a key player ever since.
Tommy Conway
Young striker Tommy Conway was a high-profile signing in the summer of 2024 arriving for a reported £4.5million fee from Bristol City.
He got 13 goals to his name in his first campaign on Teesside, and his importance only increased since the January departure of Emmanuel Latte Lath to MLS side Atlanta United.
The Taunton-born Scotland international came through the academy ranks with Bristol City, and made his senior debut for the Robins towards the end of the 2020-21 season.
The 2022-23 campaign saw him make the breakthrough to become a regular, with his industry and pace making him a nuisance for opposition defenders.
He scored 20 Championship goals in 82 outings for City, and also came to wider attention when he scored against top-flight West Ham United in the original tie and the replay when Bristol knocked the Hammers out of the Emirates FA Cup last season.
Hayden Hackney
Boro academy product Hayden Hackney joined the club at under-10 level. After becoming a mainstay during the 2022-23 season, Hayden carried on his form into the 2023-24 campaign, featuring in 21 games for Michael Carrick.
Hackney managed to get the only goal of the game in front of a sold-out Riverside in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea last season and his impressively consistent levels of performance have seen him tipped for a very bright future.
Still only 23, he brought up a century of appearances for the Teessiders earlier this year, and was part of the England Under-21 squad that won the European Championship last month.
He has been the subject of interest from Premier League clubs, but he has remained with Boro as the new season arrives and remains a vitally important player.