FORMER youth sprinter Marvin Emnes says he wants to do his running with the ball at his feet and towards Premier League defenders from now on.

The 20-year-old's new team-mates have already been impressed by the Dutch U21 star's impressive turn of pace after he began training with the club this week.

"Yes, I'm a runner, but I like to run with the ball!" said highly-rated Emnes, who joined Boro in a £3.2m move from Sparta Rotterdam.

See the full interview now on Boro World.

Emnes, who cites Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho among his favourite players, says he already feels at home in his new surroundings, despite a wet introduction to his time on Teesside.

"It's beautiful, the people are nice and they've helped me with the move here," he told Boro World, speaking in English and with only occasional assistance from an interpreter.

"The training is also nice. The training ground is perfect and the facilities are very good and the stadium is also nice.

"Middlesbrough is a big club with nice players and I want to play in the Premier League so I'm happy to join."

Boss Gareth Southgate is delighted to have signed a player who has earned a glowing reputation in his homeland during his short career so far.

"He's an exciting forward who can play left, right or through the middle, so he has flexibility in terms of being able to play different positions," he said.

"He has excellent pace and really made his breakthrough towards the end of last season where he scored eight goals.

"There was a lot of competition particularly in Holland for his signature."

While hopes are high for the young forward's Boro future, Emnes himself is initially setting his sights on earning a regular first team place in one of the world's toughest leagues.

"I'd like to start in the first 11 and do my best to help the team," he said.

"In the first season I would like to play a lot of minutes and maybe in one of two years become a big player."