Michael Ricketts has no regrets leaving Bolton Wanderers for Middlesbrough.
The former England one cap wonder is currently without a club.
When he moved to Boro the perception was he got a bit too big for his boots and it all came crashing round his ankles.
He insisted to The Sun: "People can say what they want but I didn't feel like that. I just wanted a new challenge. I was disappointed when a possible move to Spurs fell through but Middlesbrough came in and was still a big opportunity for me - like Andy's is at Liverpool.
"I suppose I was the hottest young striker around at the time but Boro had a completely different style to the way Bolton played.
"I was used to being one of the main men but at Boro they didn't play through me.
"Then I got injured the following pre-season, did my Achilles and was out for three months. Any player will tell you how hard it is to catch up after that. I got quite depressed.
"People say England was the start of the decline but I don't agree. I was proud to play for my country and will always be grateful for it.
"But you get into a cycle where you feel you should be playing at a higher level and it's hard to motivate yourself."
