Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has hailed the commitment to the cause shown by Mido.

Southgate was ready to replace him before the break against Sunderland with Lee Cattermole stripped on the sidelines, but the Egyptian was determined to play on.

Southgate said: "He epitomises the spirit in the dressing room. It was clear that he had a problem with his hamstring.

"We assumed we needed to get him off, but he wanted to stay on. We knew he would be limited by it and in the end, sometimes you have to save him from himself because there is always the risk of doing more damage in that situation.

"I think he realised that it was too limiting for him as the game went on.

"But you can only admire his desire to stay out there and battle for his team-mates."