EMANUEL POGATETZ captained Boro from the start for the first time against Aston Villa and, after retaining the armband for Saturday's brave draw with Arsenal, the Austrian international doesn't want to let it go!

"To captain such a big club and such a good squad makes me proud," he said. "Wearing the armband from the start of the game was good. It's always great to be captain, I'm glad the gaffer made this decision and I'm very happy about it."

With Julio Arca losing his place for the last two games there were several players who could have been chosen to lead the team out at Villa Park, but Gareth Southgate took Pogatetz aside to explain exactly why he was given the honour.

"He likes my professionalism," said Pogatetz. "Every day I try to do things right and I think that's very important for every player. The gaffer likes how I lead on the field so I'm very proud and I hope that I can keep this armband as long as possible."

He's played both left-back and centre-half for Boro since signing from Bayer Lerverkusen back in 2005 and his performances last season led to him being named Player of the Year by the club's supporters.

His rise has not gone unnoticed on the international stage and he was recently brought in from the wilderness by Austrian head coach Josef Hickersberger, a man with whom the defender had previously had a much publicised fall out

"I'm excited to be back," he said. "We have another game next week against Holland which is another tough game and yes, we lost against Germany, but the performance was all right.

"I'm looking forward to the game and the European Championships but I have to do my job for the club here first and that's what I'm focussed on.

"I want to get the season finished with us safe as soon as possible, then I can go on and think about the national team, but for now 100% of my concentration is here."

Austria didn't have to qualify for the competition as hosts and so many Boro fans will have their eyes on Poggy over the Summer, after England failed to make it into the tournament under former Riverside boss Steve McClaren.

"It's important for my country and myself to go away on a high," he said. "That's another reason why winning on Saturday is so important. It would be good to go and play for Austria on the back of a win and hopefully I can pass on some of the spirit we have here to the national squad."

Spirit has been a key factor in Boro's recent resurgence and Poggy thinks Boro's last two results have soothed the pain of the cup defeat to Cardiff, although not completely.

"We've had two good results," he said. "I'm a little disappointed we didn't get the win against Villa because I think we deserved it but it wasn't to be. They were still two important points though and we've restored a bit of pride, but there's a long way to go."

Fans will be expecting Boro to follow up the much improved performances of late by knocking over Derby at the Riverside and taking a giant leap towards Premier League safety, but Poggy is staying cautious.

"It'll be a very different game," he said. "We have to learn from Cardiff, there's no point trying to chase the game and going 1-0 down again, that would make it ten times harder, so we have to be patient.

"We have to try an attack them but always in a good shape so we don't allow them to counter us and maybe score first."

While a goal in the first five minutes would be nice, Pogatetz wants Boro fans to keep the faith if the team can't grab an early initiative.

"If we keep patient and the supporters keep patient then the goals will come," he said. "All we have to do is win the game. If it comes after 80 minutes then it comes after 80 minutes, I hope we can score quickly but you never know."

Derby might well be dead and buried as far as the Premier League goes this season but if their performance against Manchester United last weekend is anything to go by, Saturday's game will be no walk-over.

"It's dangerous now to play Derby because everyone expects you to win," said Pogatetz. "They have nothing to lose, they know they're getting relegated so they have the chance to play with freedom and they showed against Manchester United that they can still be dangerous."

If Boro can beat the Rams they'll move onto 34 points and take another step towards an 11th consecutive season of top flight football.