He’s the leader, so he’s obviously missed, but other players have to step forward.”Juninho has been recalled to the Brazil squad for the first time since last summer’s World Cup final victory for the friendly against Jamaica at Leicester’s Walkers Stadium on 12 October.Ironically, his return to the international fold comes at a time when he cannot command a place in the starting line-up at the Riverside.. Parnaby and Murphy have joined Ugo Ehiogu on the treatment table, with the former England defender unlikely to play again before the New Year after damaging his cruciate ligament at the end of last season.Ehiogu’s central-defensive partner Gareth Southgate, the club captain, is facing his own battle for fitness ahead of the visit of Chelsea to the Riverside Stadium on Sunday.Southgate missed Saturday’s 1-0 win at the St Mary’s Stadium after picking up a groin injury in the Carling Cup victory over Brighton, but McClaren is desperate to have him back for the clash with Claudio Ranieri’s all-stars.”Just to look around and see Gareth there, there’s immediate respect,” the Middlesbrough manager said “They know what he can do. “He had a very good pre-season and was looking well.”It’s a frustration. You always want to play your strongest team, you always want to play a settled team – there’s nobody who would like a settled team more than myself at the present moment. And although the Italian still has something to prove, the club’s manager, Steve McClaren, will be delighted when he returns to first-team contention.”He’s our top-scorer, there’s no getting away from that,” McClaren said. Sneaking away after a pint, I was just about to leave the clubhouse when a shout of “shutters” was directed at me.

Apparently, for being late, this was also my job and I had to screw them over the windows to keep the vandals out. I always thought this used to be the job of the last two to leave.. Middlesbrough’s record signing, Massimo Maccarone, is ready to stake his claim for a return to action after a miserable two months on the sidelines. Border, who was then Test cricket’s most capped player, had to go back and play a game of grade cricket to show he was fit enough to represent Queensland.Inevitably his presence stirred up the other team and it was not long before the highest run-scorer in Test cricket – who was never shy of the odd word – became involved in a heated exchange with one of the opposition bowlers.On this occasion, however, Border met his match – as we all do – and was left speechless when the young bowler said: “Well, how many games of grade have you played in the last five years, mate?”A day’s work is never finished in club cricket, however. My favourite concerns Allan Border, the former Australian captain, when he was returning from injury. Fortunately he walked away.As long as matters do not go too far, the odd word here or there can be quite amusing and liven up a dull period of play.

Again holding back rather than giving him both barrels and telling him exactly where he stood in my cricketing career, I enquired whether he was complimenting me on my achievements or sledging me, because it would directly affect the response that came his way. Walking down the wicket to chat with his partner, he looked at me and said: “Oh, you’ve played a bit of cricket, have you?”Taken aback by his response I could only muster an ironic “Sorry?”, to which the batsman repeated his comment. Biting my tongue, I ignored his attempts to provoke me until he waved his bat at the umpire in an effort to show him that he had edged the ball on to his pad following an lbw appeal.This is something I dislike enormously and I politely asked him whether he would be so honest should he nick one through to the wicketkeeper. However, your presence can make you the target for an opponent who is keen to impress.There was one such occasion this season in a cup match against Saffron Walden in which their opening batsman, who was once a distinguished Minor County player who never quite made it as a pro, kept attempting to stare me out while I was bowling.