Mido claims that he is ready to return to Middlesbrough after 18 months away on-loan and play in the Championship. The Egyptian striker has played less than 30 games for the Teesside club since joining in 2007.

The 27 year old joined Wigan on-loan in January 2009 and he then spent last season away from the club too, having spells with Zamalek and then West Ham.

"I explained to Middlesbrough at a meeting two weeks ago that I have a year left on my contract and want to stay and help get them back into the top flight," Mido told the Sunday Sun.

"They had wanted to know how I was thinking, and I was clear in saying I would love to stay, get my head down and work hard to take Boro where they need to go.

"Most of the time at Boro, I was injured. But then I went to Wigan and stayed fit, and I was fit for six months at West Ham. "And people can go and ask those clubs if I was ever not 110 per cent committed. I had no problems at Wigan, and Gianfranco Zola was very happy with my attitude at West Ham.

"When I signed for Middlesbrough, I was desperate to do well, but the manager - Gareth Southgate - did what he wanted to do.

"I scored four in five games at the start of the 2008-09 season, but he still decided not to play me.

"But that's in the past. I haven't met the manager at the club now, but I hear he is a good man.

"I'm sure I will get my chance to show him I still have a lot to offer as a player in the Championship, but it needs to be impressed on everyone from an attitude point of view that I am totally committed.

"I strongly feel that, with the passion of the fans and the potential of the club, we should be right up the table fighting to get back into the Premier League.

"Boro should be in the Premier League - they've done so much over the last 10 years.

"Now, I want to help get them back where they belong."