Boro chase sensational return

Former England defender Jonathan Woodgate is being lined up for a sensational return to hometown club Middlesbrough. The 32-year-old ex-Real Madrid centre-back is said to be keen to return after talks with manager Tony Mowbray despite interest from the Premier League.

Woodgate is currently a free-agent after his one-year deal at Stoke City expired. Their manager Tony Pulis is understood to have offered him an extension that was effectively a pay-as-you-play agreement.

For his part, Mowbray is a long-time admirer of Woodgate, who has also seen service with Leeds United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, where he moved in a £7m deal from Boro in January 2008. Mowbray has already tried on a couple of occasions to take him back to the Riverside.

Boro previously pulled off a major coup in August 2006 when they lured Woodgate back to Teesside following a frustrating injury-plagued two years in Spain.

The Middlesbrough-born stopper has more than 300 senior appearances to his credit during his career and moved in transfer fees totalling almost £40m.

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