Middlesbrough FC

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Pogatetz targets Villa date

31 Oct 2007 - 12:15:30

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Injured Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz has targeted a return to action against Aston Villa next month.

The 24-year-old defender has not made an appearance for the Teessiders this season following summer knee surgery.

However, last season's player of the year stepped up his comeback by turning out for the club's reserves earlier in the week and believes he will be knocking on the door of a first-team return when Villa travel to the Riverside on November 24.

"I think I should be back at my best after the next international break," he told the club's official website.

"If the manager feels he needs me before that then of course I will play, but it's hard when you know you are only 80 or 90 per cent fit.

"I need to test myself and take part in more competitive training to get back my self-belief. I want to get back to my best physically and mentally."

Pogatetz joined Boro in a £1.8million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2005 and has gone on to make over 80 appearances for the club.