Morgan Whittaker says Middlesbrough is the perfect next step in his career - as he gears up for his debut for the club.

Whittaker joined the Teesside outfit for £5m from Plymouth Argyle and is eligible to play against Sunderland on Monday.

The 24-year-old scored 33 goals in 103 games for Argyle, making him one of the hottest properties in the Championship.

"I'm very clear what I want and what I need next for my career and a team like Middlesbrough is perfect for me," he told BBC Radio Tees.

Whittaker is one of a raft of reinforcements for Boro this month, in a recruitment drive that also includes goalkeeper Mark Travers and defenders Ryan Giles and George Edmundson.

But it is the arrival of Whittaker that is the most eye-catching.

"With the way the team plays, the manager and where they are in the league, everything for the next step to progress to a higher level, this is the perfect place to do it," he said.

Whittaker joins a forward line that already includes on-loan Liverpool player Ben Doak, Tommy Conway and attacking midfielder Finn Azaz.

He previously played alongside Aaz at Plymouth in a dynamic partnership and is hoping to rekindle that on Teesside.

"In the season when I scored 20, Finn set up most of my goals," he said. "I'm hoping he can do the same here."