Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede determined to avoid third relegation

Injuries and form have blighted his time since arriving from Aston Villa in January, 2017, with the Benin international also enduring a fractious relationship with supporters.

Handed his first league start at the Riverside Stadium in just over two years on Monday in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, Gestede produced the sort of commitment and work-rate that goes down rather better with fans.

It culminated in him scoring his first goal since his last start on home soil in the Championship – v Hull in February, 2018 - and demonstrated that he will have part to play in the survival quest.

Having been demoted with Boro in 2016-17 – after also being relegated with Villa in 2015-16 – he said: “You don’t want this. Even if you are out of contract or if you have just signed a contract – or if you have a proposition from Madrid – you do not want this on your CV and you don’t want to go down.

“Unfortunately, I have been in this situation already. I know what to do to stay up and know what we have to avoid, so we have to stick together and have the mentality to work together.

“It is great feeling (to score). I have been injured a lot since I joined Middlesbrough. I have not done what I wanted to do and it is a big frustration for me.

“Now I have managed to get myself fit and play and the manager has given me confidence, I am sure I can play a part in this fight against relegation.”

Just nine days on from an altercation from a small pockets of supporters after walking to the changing rooms following a grim 1-0 defeat at Barnsley, Gestede continued: “I don’t want to talk about a small part of the fans. I know the majority are behind us. I stay away from social media and just focus on my football.”