The 25-year-old defender is already looking forward to the forthcoming campaign just days after suffering the disappointment of Austria's elimination from the finals of Euro 2008.

He is convinced with strikers Afonso Alves and Tuncay Sanli now firing on all cylinders, the Teessiders can drag themselves into the top 10 and set their sights on making a significant impact.

Pogatetz, who has been confimed as club captain by manager Gareth Southgate, told the club's official website: "Gareth wants to raise the standards and I am committed to helping him in every way I can.

better chance

"Of course the top 10 is possible next season - and I see no reason why we can't go on to do even better than that.

"The biggest problem last season was that we got off to such a slow start. If we can establish ourselves in the top half of the table early on in the season, then we will give ourselves a much better chance of still being there come May."

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