Middlesbrough's new Brazilian striker Afonso Alves is convinced he will be a success in the Premier League once he has settled in England.

Over 2,000 fans were in attendance at The Riverside as Boro presented their new record signing to the media.

Alves, who is contention to make his debut in the weekend's clash with Fulham, is convinced he can make an impact with Boro.

"Of course it will take some time to adapt to the speed of football over here but I think I will play my own game and I will settle in the end," he said.

"There's already a very good team here. I saw the last game at the stadium and the team made a lot of chances to score. But I still think we can improve and I hope I can help."

Happy

The 26-year-old international admitted he is already feeling good about his new life in the North East.

"I feel very much at home," he said.

"Of course only time will tell how well I will adapt but after this warm welcome I think I will give my answer with goals.

"The Premier League is a very exiting competition. I've always thought about playing here and I will do my very best to achieve everything I can."

Juninho impact

Boro boss Gareth Southgate feels Alves could could emulate the impact made on the club by Juninho - who became a legend on Teesside during his three spells on the banks of the Tees.

"Certainly, Juninho is still a figure who is loved by everybody associated with Middlesbrough, so it would be great if in 10 years' time, people were looking back on Afonso in the same way," said Southgate.

"There is no reason why that could not happen. He is a player who was the top scorer in Europe last year and he is somebody we are very excited to have at the club.

"The players are excited, the supporters are excited and it's good that he is joining us at a time when the team is just starting to improve on the field, because it gives us an added impetus.

"You see a hunger in his game to get into the box. A lot of the strikers we have had in recent seasons have done a lot of their good work outside the box.

"He has a good physical presence, he is an athletic player, but in the end, a player of his style, you judge on the goals he scores.

"That is clearly an aspect that has been missing from our performances."