AITOR KARANKA is confident Albert Adomah will still be a Middlesbrough player when the transfer window closes next week – despite the winger putting in a transfer request yesterday.

Adomah walked out of a team meeting in the wake of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Bristol City and was left out of the Boro squad for the 2-1 win over Burton Albion in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night, and can no longer see his future at the Riverside Stadium.

The Ghanaian’s transfer request is set to be rejected by chief executive Neil Bausor and Steve Gibson, however, and Karanka does not think the 27-year-old will be going anywhere.

News of Adomah’s transfer request broke during Karanka’s press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Championship fixture at Sheffield Wednesday, and when asked whether the winger would still be a Boro player when the transfer window closes on Tuesday, Karanka replied: “Of course, I can't consider anything else because the numbers are there.

“He's played with me 82 games in 20 months, he was the captain ten days ago at Oldham, I've said he's a leader in this team, he said after the game against Oldham that he was very proud of being the captain, so for this reason I can't think why not.

“I don't think there was any disagreement because the players know they are unhappy when they're on the bench.

“I used to be a player and I wasn't happy when I was on the bench, but they know the following week they could be playing. For example, Adam Reach was in the stands, not even on the bench, last Saturday and he played in the first XI on Tuesday.

“For that reason, for me, I'm not the kind of manager where's there's always one step - if you're on the bench one week then you'll be on the pitch the next. No, for me you can be in the game one day and you can be in the stand another, and you can be on the stand and then on the pitch the following day. I have to be fair with all my players.”

Karanka, who later said in an interview for broadcast on BBC Tees that he had not discussed the matter with Bausor or Gibson, is not expected to include Adomah in the Boro squad bound for Hillsborough tomorrow.

“I don't know, I'll have to check today and check tomorrow, so I don't know at the moment,” said the Spanish head coach. “There is no disagreement, I have to try and pick the 18 first, and then the best XI.”

Karanka defended his rotation policy which saw Adomah left out of the 18-man squad at the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday, and following the Spaniard making four changes to his side ahead of the Bristol City defeat.

He said: “I've been a manager for 20 months and it's something I've done since I started my career. Last season was good because, in Spain we say 'you take your (school) marks in May'. In the last 20 months I think rotation has worked for the team, as last season we played the final and we were close to getting promotion directly, so I don't think I have to change my way of putting the players on the pitch.

“I always (pick) the best XI and the best XI in my head is the XI I put on the pitch. (Fans) have their best XI but they don't know how they're training, how they are in terms of injuries or pains. It's difficult for people to understand a lot of things but I have to manage and sometimes when one player is not confident or I can feel him not confident on the training ground, I have to choose the best XI.”

One player definitely heading out of Middlesbrough this week is Muzzy Carayol, who is set to complete a loan move to Huddersfield Town today.

Karanka explained it was important to find the right club for the attacking midfielder, who has fallen down the pecking order at Boro.

“We have to find the best team for him to play and to show everyone how good he is - and if he is ready to come back with us and to play. He's capable of doing that,” said Karanka.

Middlesbrough go into tomorrow’s game at Hillsborough with one win, two draws and a defeat from their opening Championship fixtures, and Karanka hopes his side can get back to winning ways in South Yorkshire against a team who, as manager, he has never beaten.

“I think it's very important, it's another game,” said Karanka. “We can't lose more games but if we do lose another game then we have another nine months. This season is a marathon, last year we finished the first month with six points and we came close to getting promoted automatically and played the final in Wembley.

“We can't panic as we're still in August, we have a good squad with very good players, so we're going to play against Sheffield wanting to win but it's another three points.”

n Boro’s Capital One Cup third round tie at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers will take place on Tuesday, September 22, it has been confirmed.