Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate insists that Mido will be "fully fit" by the beginning of next season at the latest...
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has defended his £6m striker Mido, tipping the Egyptian to start next season afresh and win the hearts of the Riverside fans.
The 25-year-old journeyman has endured an injury-plagued time on Teeside, with his torrid season finally ended by a hernia operation last week.
Southgate, though, is adamant that the hitman can get back to peak fitness and finally make a big impression in the Premiership.
"The most important thing is that he has time to get himself 100 per cent fit," Southgate told the Northern Echo.
"From when he first came, he's been in a situation that's been far from ideal.
"We've got to make sure that's right now and we've got a period of time to do that.
"We know what a good player he is and after that period, whether before the end of this season or at the beginning of the next, it will be good to have a fully fit and fresh player back."
Southgate has turned to Brazilian forward Afonso Alves, whom he signed in January, to lead Boro’s line in recent matches.
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