Middlesbrough Football Club News

• Nickname:Boro
• Founded:1876
• Manager:Tony Mowbray

• Ground:Riverside Stadium
• Capacity:35,049

Christie backs Woody

05 Sep 2006 - 17:21:02

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Middlesbrough striker Malcolm Christie thinks Jonathan Woodgate will be a big success at the Riverside Stadium.

The former Leeds and Newcastle United defender moved to Teesside on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid last week in a bid to return to full fitness after enduring an injury-ravaged three years.

Christie, who has signalled his intention to leave Boro, knows all about injury problems having suffered numerous setbacks during his spell with the club since his transfer from Derby County in January 2003.

"I can appreciate what he's been through," Christie told Boro's official website. "It's very difficult when you're injured, at times. You can't see light at the end of the tunnel.

"But if he's now fully-fit and ready to play, then he can come back home - it's his hometown club - and he'll get a fantastic ovation from the supporters.

"The supporters will take to him as one of their own, and it's a fantastic opportunity for him to prove again that he can get back on to the international stage, because I'm sure that's what he wants to do.

"We've got ourselves a very good defender. He's played at the highest level for Real Madrid, he's played for Newcastle as well.

"I've played against him a couple of times and I know what a very good defender he is. He's going to be fantastic for us."