Woodgate set for Boro return

Injury-plagued former England international Jonathan Woodgate is set to return to Middlesbrough subject to a medical, the Championship club confirmed on Friday.

The 32-year-old is a free agent having played for Stoke last season.

The club said on their official website, mfc.co.uk, that Woodgate is close to starting a second spell at the Riverside Stadium, where he played 52 times after an initial loan move from Real Madrid six years ago.

Boro eventually paid the Spanish giants £7million for Woodgate on that occasion before an £8million move to Tottenham in January 2008.

The former Leeds youth player has commanded in excess of £35million in transfer fees despite suffering an injury-stricken career.