MARVIN EMNES arrived on Teesside as one of Europe's hottest prospects after eye-catching performances in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Signed from Sparta Rotterdam for £3.2m in July 2008, Emnes arrived with the reputation of being one of the quickest players in the game.

Born in Rotterdam, the Holland U21 international played 55 Eredivisie games for Sparta, receiving the club's Player of the Year award in 2007/08 after an amazing goalscoring run towards the end of the season.

The youngster was part of the Dutch U17 squad that reached third place at the 2005 FIFA U17 World Championships, scoring two goals in the tournament.

He became Gareth Southgate's first signing of the 2008/9 season after agreeing a four-year contract.

Marvin can play on either wing or as a striker and impressed in his pre-season appearances, scoring a superb goal during his first start on English soil in a 5-0 win away to Darlington.

He scored his first goal for the club on his debut with Boro's fourth in a 5-1 Carling Cup win over Yeovil at the Riverside in August 2008.

Marvin's only other goal of his first season came with the winner in a 2-1 win away to Wolves in the FA Cup fourth round in January 2009.

He made his Premier League debut away to Blackburn Rovers in October 2008, but didn't start in the league until the third last game of the season, away to Newcastle United.

In his first season in English football he made a total of 21 appearances.