Tuesday May 13 2008 12:12
Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng is taking time out to decide whether to remain at the Riverside next season, or move on for a fresh challenge.
The 32-year-old Dutchman still has another 12 months of his current deal left to run, but Boateng was concerned at not being a regular starter in the season just ended.
He told the Northern Echo: "I think the best thing is that I go away, go on holiday and get my mind back on zero. It's been a tough time.
"In my whole career this has been mentally the toughest season for me. I've had so many setbacks.
"If I look at the fixtures I have played, at the start of the season I wasn't sure whether I was going to make 20 the way things were going. I'm proud that I managed to play so many.
"I'm pleased I proved a few people wrong and that my time has not passed and I'm still as good as I want to be.
"I'm here to work and achieve something. If that can't be here, then I will go somewhere else. The main issue for me is that I don't want to come back if I'm going to be a bit-part player."
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