A BORN and bred Teessider and lifelong Middlesbrough supporter, Dael Fry is desperate to experience his own special Riverside moment.

The central defender made his breakthrough in Boro's last promotion season in 2015-16 - but was not involved in their famous final-day clincher against top-two rivals Brighton amid unbearable tension by the Tees almost exactly a decade ago.

He was an unused substitute in his boyhood side's home play-off legs against Aston Villa (2018) and Coventry (2023). Both ended in 1-0 losses.

The Boro captain has also copped some painful moments in league games at the Riverside against the likes of Sunderland and Leeds United.

Middlesbrough' captain Dael Fry. Picture: Flynn Duggan/PA Wire.

placeholder image — Middlesbrough' captain Dael Fry. Picture: Flynn Duggan/PA Wire.

He'd dearly love to savour that winning feeling on the pitch for once in a marquee sell-out fixture for Boro today - even if it would be a job only partly done if the hosts have a good afternoon ahead of Tuesday's second leg against Southampton.

He said: "We’ve got so close throughout the years. I'm sick of seeing other teams celebrating on the Riverside. We’ve had Leeds, Sunderland, Burnley; honestly it just takes out of you. Hopefully, this time we get the win at the Riverside and we go to Southampton and do a job as well. These opportunities don't come easy. We’ve obviously a lot of work to do to get back there (up), but I'm confident and we’re going to do everything we can to get back there.

"We cannot let this opportunity slip. We were in the top two for a long period, it did hurt when we dropped out. But we’ve looked past that now because every team’s going to have games where they should’ve picked up points. We’ve still got an amazing opportunity to go up and play-offs are probably a little bit more exciting as well.

"We just need to get this done because it'll be the greatest feeling that I’ll probably have in my career.”

Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg gestures on the touchline during the Sky Bet Championship match at SToK Racecourse, Wrexham last weekend. Picture: Cody Froggatt/PA Wire.

A sea of red will greet Boro's players when they arrive in mid-morning after the club made the decision for the squad to arrive together by coach - to experience a proper Riverside welcome.

Fry added: "It’ll be brilliant. We were sat in a meeting room and had the screen on and were watching PSG turn up to the game with all the flares. Even just sat there I was getting goosebumps because I know that the fans will turn out in force and it’s only going to spur us on.

"I wish I was on that bus now going to the Riverside because I just know it’s going to be brilliant. It’s only going to make us better on the pitch."