BORO fans attending today's big game against Fulham at the Riverside can give Brazilian signing Afonso Alves another big Teesside welcome.

After 3,000 supporters greeted Boro's record signing for his official unveiling on Thursday, 10,000 free miniature Brazil flags will be given out at Saturday's match, courtesy of club sponsors Garmin.

The flags - featuring Brazil's national colours on one side and the Garmin logo on the other - will be put out on seats around the stadium before kick-off.

Young fans will also have the chance to have their faces painted in Boro or Brazil colours, while pupils from Bankfields School will perform pre-match next to the Ayresome Park gates following their star performance at the Riverside on Thursday.

In addition, supporters group The Twe12th Man have produced their own 45-foot hand-painted Alves welcome banner, which will be on display in the East Stand.

And pupils and staff at Our Lady and St Bede's School in Stockton have produced a banner in Afonso's honour that will go on display alongside other Boro banners at the back of the North Stand.

To celebrate the arrival of Alves, Boro have reduced all away kit - shirt, shorts and socks - by 25% with immediate effect.

That means adult away shirts are now just £30, with children's sizes priced from £15 to £22.50.

Meanwhile any fan buying a home or away shirt before kick-off against Fulham can get the name of Afonso Alves printed on the back for just £10 - that's a £5 reduction on the usual price.

The MFC Retail stores have had a rush of requests to get the name of Boro's new number 12 printed onto shirts since the club completed his beat-the-deadline signing late last Thursday night.

Riverside fans can get further into the samba mood by snapping up one of a new range of half Boro/half Brazil scarves and three feet Boro/Brazil flags. The scarves are £4.50 and flags £4.99.

Tickets for Saturday's big game with Fulham (3pm ko) at the Riverside are available now, priced just £9 for under-11s, from just £15 for under-16s and over-65s and from £24 for adults.

Tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day via the club's official website at mfc.co.uk or by calling the tickets hotline on 0870 499 1234.

Alternatively, they are available from the Riverside ticket office between 9.30am and 5pm weekdays and 9.30am to kick-off on Saturday, and from MFC Retail in Captain Cook Square from 9.30am to 5pm Thursday and Friday and 9.30am to 12 midday Saturday.

*Fans are asked to note that Boro have sold out of medium-size away shirts, while they are also out of stock of home shirts in small, medium and large. However, all children's home sizes are available, together with XL, XXL, XXXL and XXXXL.