Woodgate ‘really happy’ at Boro but still keeping options open

MIDDLESBROUGH’S Jonathan Woodgate insists he has not turned his back on his career at Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old England international faces former employers Newcastle today having re-established himself as one of the country’s most accomplished central defenders during a year-long loan spell.

Boro are desperate to sign Woodgate on a permanent basis at the end of the season but insisted recently Real’s claims that the deal had been done were premature.

Woodgate is adamant he will keep his options open despite the implication that he is no longer part of Fabio Capello’s plans at the Bernabeu Stadium.

He said: “I have still got my contract in Madrid but we will wait and see what happens.

“I am a player there at the end of the day, I have got a year there and I am on loan at Middlesbrough and I am really happy here.

“I will cross that line when I come to the end of the season. I will take all the options into account and see what happens.

“But the main thing is I am extremely happy at Middlesbrough.”

Woodgate spent 18 months at St James’ Park after Bobby Robson prised him away from cash-strapped Leeds, and he was a major hit with the fans.

However, injuries were to blight his time on Tyneside and the Magpies could not refuse when Madrid offered £13.4million.

Fitness problems limited Woodgate to only a handful of appearances in the famous white shirt, but having resurrected his career on Teesside, he admits he could hardly be any happier.

He added: “I am happy every day coming to training. I enjoy coming in. I wake up every morning looking forward to getting to training and sometimes you do not want to go home because you enjoy it that much.

“The football on the training pitch is brilliant. I am really enjoying it.”

Whether that is enough to persuade Woodgate to commit his future to Boro remains to be seen, although he is confident the ambition is there to ensure the likes of striker Mark Viduka remains on board and other big signings head for the Riverside Stadium.

“For me, we have one of the best chairmen in the country in Steve Gibson,” Woodgate added.