Dimi targets new Boro deal

Dimi Konstantopoulos: Looking to win a new contract

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos has set his heart on a new contract after establishing himself as Aitor Karanka’s number one.

The 35-year-old Greece international’s existing deal is due to expire at the end of the campaign, but having forced his way into pole position since the departure of loan signing Shay Given in February, he is hoping he has a longer future on Teesside.

Konstantopoulos told the Northern Echo: “I’m here until the end of the season, then we will see what happens.

“The better you play, the more you impress the coach, so hopefully that can continue for me.

“Things at the start of the season were different. The manager was different and it wasn’t the best situation for me.

“But I kept working hard and the new gaffer came in and things changed.

“We have really good keepers at the club and it keeps us on our toes, that’s the key.

“We have to work hard to keep our place. Not just keepers, every position too.”

The Teessiders have put together a run of four successive victories, including Saturday’s 1-0 win at promotion-chasing Burnley, to ease themselves to within six points of the play-off places with just four games remaining.

However, goalkeeper Konstantopoulos told the Northern Echo: “It shows that we are not being complacent, but we are not pushing for the play-offs despite what everyone thinks.

“We are trying to do the best job we can do before the end of the season, and that’s what we are going to do. We have got four games, so let’s win all four.

“We need to focus on the next game, win the next game and if we win all of them, let’s see where it takes us. It’s a bit of a cliche, but that’s all we can do at the minute.

“We are enjoying our run and we want it to continue. All we can do is keep winning. If we can get there, fantastic. But other teams have to drop points, so it’s not in our hands.”