Boro get defensive boost

Riggott: Happy to be back

Blokes are supposed to think about sex every seven seconds, instead I have been thinking about injuries every seven seconds. I break the norm.

Chris Riggott
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Middlesbrough have been boosted by the return to action of defenders Andrew Taylor and Chris Riggott.

Taylor has been sidelined for six-weeks with ankle ligament damage, whilst Riggott is looking to end nine months of injury heartache.

Riggott has undergone two operations on his ankle and has not played since February against Manchester City.

Both players played in a behind closed-doors game against Newcastle on Tuesday.

Taylor is now looking to be involved against Crystal Palace at the weekend, whilst Riggott is hoping to play for the reserve team next week.

Riggott admits that he thought about quitting the game during his lay-off.

"I have hated it. You fall out of love with football because you are so fed up," said Riggott.

"It's been a nightmare. I have definitely thought about quitting. It got to the point where I was totally fed up. I don't want to quit, and I never wanted to, but it was that hard to deal with.

Tough

"When you have had an operation it really is full on depression. It's been awful.

"Blokes are supposed to think about sex every seven seconds, instead I have been thinking about injuries every seven seconds. I break the norm."

Riggott is out of contract in the summer and he knows he needs to start playing to prove himself.

"This is a pretty big season for me and that's what has made it worse because I know how big it is," said Riggott.

"It's out of my hands to an extent. I can't do that much about it, I'm doing everything I can to try to get fit.

"Hopefully I have now turned the corner. The chairman is probably tearing his hair out seeing the wages going out, that's understandable.

"What I would say is that I'm trying, I'm really trying.

"I see Keith Lamb (chief executive) every day and he asks me if I'm fit yet. I keep saying I'm trying. It's that horrible feeling of letting people down.

"I'm not trying to think about the contract situation, that would drive me insane."