A Man With A Mission!
HE returned from a lengthy lay-off to show Boro what they'd been missing, then Jeremie Aliadiere suffered a reaction and has been out since - but he's fit for Sheffield United.
"I'm back training," says the French forward. "I had a reaction in my ankle after the Scunthorpe game, it started to swell on the night after the match, but I feel much better now."
The Boxing Day win over Scunthorpe brought Aliadiere his first game under Gordon Strachan, his first since the last game for Gareth Southgate on October 20.
It also marked his first goal since the middle of September but his previous one was also in Sheffield and he's hoping for a repeat performance - although he admits he needs a change of fortune.
"I've played there with Arsenal and Middlesbrough and to be honest I've never had a good game at Bramall Lane or got a good result - it's about time that changed!
"It can get to you, you start thinking that because of the way you have played before some grounds don't work for you. That needs to change."
Saturday brings the reverse of the opening game of the season, a goalless draw on a warm Friday night on Teesside. Aliadiere doesn't expect the game itself to be too much different on a cold Saturday in Sheffield.
"It was a very physical game, very tough, hard," he recalls. "We know what is to come on Saturday, most of the teams in this division are very physical, they press high and compete for everything."
United's win in the FA Cup at Loftus Road on Tuesday extended an impressive run to one defeat in 11. Boro won three in a row at Bramall Lane in the mid-80s but the most recent of that run, in 1987, brought their last success and Teesside folk have had six unrewarding trips there since.
However, those travelling to South Yorkshire on Saturday will be hoping to see this week's additions to the squad show why Gordon Strachan has shown faith in them.
Barry Robson, Chris Killen and Willo Flood all signed on Wednesday and Aliadiere was delighted.
"We're excited at new players coming in, we know we need more players, more experienced players coming in to help us. We're not doing well in the league and although we're not too far away, we need new players coming in to help.
"With the new signings we have a really good chance to start picking up points and the second half of the season could be very tasty. The main target is to get to the Premier League, but we need to win three or four games in succession.
"At the moment we win one lose one and that's not good enough."
Surgery Success For Jeremie
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