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Rejuvenated goalkeeper Brad Guzan will have every confidence that he can turn his strong international form into a regular starting place in the Premier League for Middlesbrough FC after enjoying a confidence-boosting Copa America with the USA.

The Aston Villa gloveman is set to join Boro on a free transfer, giving Aitor Karanka an abundance of options between the sticks.

Guzan will have his work cut out when it comes to nailing down the starting keeper’s jersey.

Three-time Champions League winner Victor Valdes was one of the club’s biggest-name signings of the summer, while last season’s fan favourite mainstay Dimi Konstantopoulos has already Tweeted that he won’t “leave home so easily” and back-up Tomas Mejias provides further competion on the Boro training ground.

But Guzan won’t just be arriving at the Riverside to make up the numbers going by his Copa America stint in the States.

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The 31-year-old lost his place to Mark Bunn last season as Villa were relegated from the top flight, although the club’s former keeper David James felt he was hard done by after being demoted to the bench.

Nevertheless, Guzan swiftly restored his self-belief and reputation in June as hosts the USA reached the semi-finals of the centenary Copa.

National team boss Jurgen Klinsmann was full of praise for the Illinois-born shot stopper, a deeply religious man with a strong Christian faith.

Preferred to former Everton man Tim Howard in goal, Guzan helped the USA finish top of their group and distinguished himself with a string of fine saves in their 1-0 win over Paraguay.

Argentina were a bridge too far in a comprehensive 4-0 semi-final defeat, but any keeper in the world would have struggled in the face of a Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain masterclass.

Klinsmann was particularly pleased with Guzan’s contribution during the group stage, which saw him keep consecutive clean sheets and produce his star turn against Paraguay.

“It’s big for a goalkeeper to not concede any goals obviously,” said the former Tottenham striker.

“Every time a goalkeeper makes a little mistake, they get blamed for everything and I think sometimes it’s really not fair.

“I think Brad is playing a tremendously good tournament.

“The training sessions are very intense but Brad is calm, very balanced and ready for the big task.

“I think a couple of saves he made against Paraguay were big-time saves, so give him compliments and hopefully he keeps going that way.”

Guzan has been deemed surplus to requirements by Villa following their capture of Italian keeper Pierluigi Gollini, and with so much strength in depth at the Riverside he faces a battle royale for Boro’s No 1 slot next season.

But it’s one that Guzan should relish judging by the impressive way he responded to his Villa disappointment while on international duty, as he looks to revitalise his career at club level on Teesside.