Middlesbrough: Aitor Karanka to remain as manager after training ground row

The 42-year-old is reported to have stormed out of a pre-match team meeting at training complex on Friday morning

Aitor Karanka's Middlesbrough sit top of the league (Rex)

Aitor Karanka will remain as Middlesbrough manager despite missing their 2-0 defeat to Charlton this weekend, the Teesside club have confirmed.

The 42-year-old is reported to have stormed out of a team meeting at the Rockliffe Park training complex on Friday morning only to be denied access to the premises the following day.

In a statement on the club website on Monday evening, however, Boro said: "Middlesbrough Football Club can confirm that head coach Aitor Karanka will be resuming first-team duties with the club with immediate effect.

"We have 10 games left this season and as a club we are fully focussed on what remains of our Championship campaign."

Karanka, a former assistant to José Mourinho at Real Madrid, has previously suffered fractured relations with departed coach Craig Hignett and midfielder Albert Adomah during his largely successful 28-month reign.

Third-place Hull City can leapfrog Middlesbrough into the Championship automatic places with a home victory against managerless Nottingham Forest on Tuesday before the two promotion contenders meet at the Riverside this Friday.