3 things to look out for as AFC Bournemouth visit Middlesbrough

Battle of the veteran ‘keepers

At the ages of 34 and 36 respectively, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration of the truth to say that Victor Valdes and Artur Boruc are at the veteran stage of their careers. Both seem to be enjoying their football once again and both seem to be performing better than ever in the unlikeliest of places too.

Just four years ago, Valdes was part of the all conquering FC Barcelona side that swept all before them, but a disastrous move to Manchester United seemed to have spelt the end after he spent the second-half of last season on loan to Standard Liege.

Released by United after playing just nine games in two years, Valdes looked like his race was run, but Middlesbrough managed to persuade a ‘keeper who won 20 caps for Spain to relocate to Teesside.

Signing a two-year contract, Valdes has impressed as ‘Boro have made a steady, if unspectacular, start to life back in the top-flight and all the experience gleamed by appearing in countless Champions League matches will be key if Aitor Karanka is to become a manager with more than one Premier League season on his CV.

A key facet in Bournemouth mixing it with the big boys for more than one season, against the odds, was the performance of their ‘keeper Artur Boruc. Two years older than Valdes, Boruc is an iconic figure in Polish football and has also been there and got every t-shirt imaginable.

His career also looked over as in 2014, he was Southampton’s third choice stopper, even behind the Saints’ calamity prone gloveman Kelvin Davis, but a move up the M27 has reinvigorated Boruc’s love for football and but for a sticky spell a year ago, has been immense at Dean Court.

He has claimed the Supporters Player of the Month Award for both August and September, meaning that his calming influence on Bournemouth’s backline hasn’t gone unnoticed and another performance that bellies his age could see the Cherries claim all three points at the Riverside.