With perhaps more than half an eye on Fulham's woeful defensive record, Afonso Alves has indicated his desire to start paying off with immediate effect the club-record £12.7million that Middlesbrough have invested in his services.

It is six weeks since the forward kicked a ball in anger, a frustrating hiatus caused by his protracted move from Heerenveen, the Dutch club, but, after arriving to launch his career on Teesside yesterday, the Brazil player is intent on making up for lost time when the team who are next to bottom in the Barclays Premier League show up at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

While the rest of the squad had a day off, Afonso was put through his paces by Middlesbrough's fitness coaches at the club's Rockliffe Park training complex, in a series of rigorous tests to assess the 27-year-old's level of conditioning. “I'm very excited to be here,” Afonso said. “I'll concentrate on training this week and, hopefully, I'll be chosen to play on Saturday.”

In an attempt to recreate the frenzied welcome enjoyed 13 years ago by Juninho, his compatriot, officials have organised for a samba band and carnival girls for today. Children waving the Brazilian flag will also be on hand at the Riverside to help Afonso's acclimatisation as he meets supporters before being introduced to the media; the club's player liaison officer, Zelia Knight, also a Brazilian, will act as interpreter.

It may take a giant leap of faith for Middlesbrough's high-profile new arrival to imagine that he has been transported home, although as a native of Belo Horizonte, Afonso knows all about the passion that a predominantly blue-collar area can have for its football team. “I'm looking forward to scoring goals for Middlesbrough,” he said. “I haven't set myself a goal target, I just want to achieve something good for the whole team.”

Gareth Southgate, the manager, said: “He's not match-fit because he's not played for a few weeks. It won't take him very long to get that match fitness because he's a good athlete and he has a couple of days to get ready for Fulham. He has things to deal with, like the language and moving house, but we're confident he can settle quickly. The most important thing is that we have competition for places in that area and he brings that.”

The unavailability of Tuncay Sanli, in addition to doubts over the fitness of Mido and Jérémie Aliadière, his fellow forwards, could force the hand of Southgate, who would normally allow his new recruit a full week of training before throwing him into the fray.

Speaking from experience as a South American who took time to settle in England, Julio Arca, the captain, sounded a word of caution for those expecting too much too soon from the new arrival. “Everyone is different,” the Argentinian said. “But, being realistic, I always say from the cases I've seen that it normally takes between four and six months at least to adapt when you come here from abroad.”

Afonso's wish to make an instant impact will rely heavily on the supply line provided by Stewart Downing, and Middlesbrough remain confident of reaching a positive outcome in the contract impasse with the England winger.

Downing's agent has indicated that his client will not enter into further negotiations and will instead run down the remaining 2 years of his existing agreement to show his disappointment at the new offer on the table. However, the player is now due, along with his father, to meet the club for fresh talks.

The club believe that the package, worth £35,000 a week, is more than generous and Keith Lamb, the chief executive, said: “We don't want to lose Stewart and we'll move heaven and earth to keep him. We've made him a substantial offer, considerably more than he is on now, and he's made it clear he doesn't want to leave. I'm certain that we'll get round the table and solve it.”