Middlesbrough midfielder Fabio Rochemback has revealed just how much he is enjoying life at the Riverside.
The Brazilian was strongly linked with a move back to Portugal in the summer where he has previously played for Sporting Lisbon, but a transfer never materialised.
He has now secured a regular place in the first-team after finding himself on the bench for much of last season. Rochemback has impressed with some dynamic midfield displays alongside Julio Arca, who was recently ruled out for at least two months with a knee injury.
"I'm feeling really good at the moment," he told the club's official website. "I feel I've personally had a good start and I want to carry it on further. I've worked very hard to get to the stage where I am at the moment and I am always pushing myself to do better."
was delighted
Rochemback missed the first three matches of the season through suspension after being sent-off against Werder Bremen in a pre-season friendly.
"I was delighted when the manager put me straight back into the side," he continued. "The team had just come back from Fulham with a win but Southgate showed faith in me and my ability. That meant a lot to me.
"I found it difficult to adapt in England at the start but there is a new atmosphere here and one which I am enjoying greatly."
And Rochemback also praised the club's supporters, saying: "They have been fantastic to me this year. I am a confidence player and I think they understand my efforts in the games now.
"When they shout my name, I feel really good and I can't wait to score in front of the North Stand in a big game. I saw Julio (Arca) do it against Newcastle and it would be very special for me if I can do the same."
On the continued transfer speculation, he added: "I am aware of the stories that get printed and although it is very flattering to be linked with these clubs, I am a Boro player and am very happy here. I am settled, my family is settled and my future is here."
Rochemback loving life at Boro
Boateng: No automatic choices
Middlesbrough skipper George Boateng admits even he needs to fight for a place in midfield as competition mounts.
The 32-year-old Dutchman found himself named only among the substitutes last weekend as new £5million signing Gary O'Neil was handed a first start for the club in the 2-2 derby draw with Sunderland.
Julio Arca's misfortune - he suffered medial ligament damage and will be out for at least two months - meant Boateng was introduced with just 27 minutes gone, and he will hope to keep his place for Sunday's Barclays Premier League trip to Everton.
However, even without the hugely influential Argentinian, Boateng knows the battle to catch manager Gareth Southgate's eye will be intense with O'Neil and fellow newcomer Mohamed Shawky now in contention.
He said: "There are certainly no automatic choices in midfield. I have been impressed with Gary in training. He is young and fit and capable of playing in several positions.
"Mohamed will need time to adapt to English football, but he will give us even more options. We all have to be versatile to play in different positions across midfield, and no-one is complaining about that."
tidy player
Boateng, like youngster Lee Cattermole before him, has found himself lining up wide on the right in recent weeks with Arca and Brazilian Fabio Rochemback forming a hugely productive central partnership.
He and Cattermole will battle it out to replace the former Sunderland man this weekend, although Shawky will hope for a chance after making his debut in the 2-0 Carling Cup defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night.
The Egyptian played the first 45 minutes before being replaced by youngster Tom Craddock, and Southgate is confident he will quickly become acclimatised.
He said: "He is a tidy player and that was his first taste of it. He has only been here a fortnight, so he is still adapting to the way we train and work.
"I was forced to throw him in, but I had no concerns about that. Everyone knows we want to give youth a chance."
West Ham 3-0 Middlesbrough
Dean Ashton scored his first goal since the 2006 FA Cup final to help West Ham to victory at the expense of Middlesbrough at Upton Park.
Bowyer opened the scoring after the restart when he picked up Carlton Cole's ball and fired in a low volley.
West Ham made it 2-0 when Cole curled in a low cross that Luke Young could only poke into his own net.
Ashton rounded off the scoring when he tapped in Matthew Etherington's teasing ball from the left.
Boro themselves had a hatful of chances during the match but seemed to leave their shooting boots at home, with substitute Tuncay Sanli guilty of missing three very good opportunties in the second half.
Before the start of the match, Alan Curbishley's men had looked a good bet for their first home league win of the season with Craig Bellamy in the starting line-up following a scintillating display for Wales in Slovakia.
They began brightly and twice came close to opening the scoring in first 13 minutes.
England Under-21 star Mark Noble gambled on pot luck with a strike from 20 yards that deflected off Boro defender Jonathan Woodgate and trickled fractionally wide of Mark Schwarzer's left-hand upright.
Ashton then thought he had broken this season's duck with a sidefooted effort, but the assistant referee ruled offside to bring his celebrations to a shuddering halt.
Both Ashton and Bellamy were causing Boro's defence problems, but Curbishley was dealt a major setback when the diminutive Welshman was forced to go off with what appeared to be a groin problem.
Boro, who had lost their previous five meetings at Upton Park, also looked threatening in the opening moments of the first-half, coming agonisingly close to scoring when Jeremie Aliadiere saw his low shot from Mido's pass come off Robert Green's left-hand post.
Aliadiere looked to be his team's biggest threat, but like Bellamy he too came off injured, with a hamstring problem.
The match had lost its spark following the loss of the two playmakers, but Bowyer made sure he reignited it after the restart.
The former Leeds and Newcastle player forced his way into the area and connected beautifully with Cole's dinked ball to volley past Schwarzer.
Cole, who was the recipient of jeering from some of Hammers supporters during the first 45, was involved again in the second goal when his low pass from the right was deflected in by Young.
Tuncay, who came on for Aliadiere, should have given Boro hope but he struck the crossbar with a dinked effort then had a six-yard shot saved by Robert Green.
The Turkey player was made to pay for being goal-shy when Ashton stole in in front of his defender to convert Etherington's cross from the left.
This time there was no offside flag and this time Ashton and West Ham could celebrate.
By Saj Chowdhury
Southgate explains Yakubu's exit
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has explained why Nigeria striker Yakubu was sold to Everton for £11.25m before the transfer window closed.
Southgate pointed to a poor showing in the 1-0 defeat at Wigan on 15 August.
"Emotionally, he was struggling, and that performance at Wigan was below his own standards," the Boro boss told a BBC Tees fans' forum.
"When a player is unsettled to that point, it's time to get the best possible deal for the club."
He added: "That process was ongoing before the Wigan game - we decided not to take him to Fulham, and I think the team responded because of that.
"No one player is more important than a football club."
