Mendieta makes up for lost time

Tactical switch
The Spanish midfielder has thrived since manager Steve McClaren introduced a 3-5-2 formation and moved Mendieta to a more central role, something the 31-year-old acknowledges has given him a new-found freedom. "I feel better in a 3-5-2 – I'm more involved in the game and see more of the ball so it's gone very well," he told the club's website.

Lazio problems
The former Valencia CF captain led the Spanish club to the UEFA Champions League final in 1999 and 2000 before moving to S.S. Lazio in a €42.8m transfer in summer 2001, the same year he was named Best Midfielder at the UEFA Club Football Awards for the second successive season. Mendieta struggled to settle in Rome, however, and returned to Spain the following summer, joining FC Barcelona on a one-season loan. With Lazio experiencing financial difficulties, Mendieta moved on in August 2003, joining Middlesbrough on an initial one-year loan with a permanent transfer to follow.

Cruciate damage
The Spaniard took time to adjust to English football but enjoyed a fruitful first season on Teesside, helping the club claim the League Cup in February 2004 - the first major trophy in their 128-year history. That also brought a debut European campaign, but Mendieta missed the majority of the club's run to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup last season having damaged cruciate ligaments against Portsmouth FC in October 2004, an injury that ruled him out until the start of the current campaign.

Long road back
"It's been hard," Mendieta said. "You work so hard but, after so long out, you lose your idea of the game. It's been a long time with the injury, recovery and rehabilitation, but now the sacrifices I've made and the work of the physios is worth it. At the time you think about wanting to be back and fit again as soon as possible but it seems a long way off."

'Different player'
McClaren recognises the role the return of the Spanish international has played in Middlesbrough's fine recent form, which included a 4-1 league victory against Manchester United FC, saying: "Mendieta makes a formidable partnership with [Fabio] Rochemback in attacking midfield. He deserves all the headlines after all he has come through to get back to full fitness. He has come back, looked a different player and is performing better than he was before the injury. He deserves it, because he worked so hard to get back. Now he has got to find that level consistently."

International hope
Despite his recent upturn in fortunes, however, Mendieta has not added to his 40 international caps since November 2002. Although he has dropped behind the likes of Xabi Alonso, David Albelda, Rubén Baraja and Luis García in the pecking order, Mendieta has not given up hope of making the FIFA World Cup finals should Spain overcome Slovakia in the play-off over the next five days. "The World Cup is the biggest event for a player but there's a long way to go for me," Mendieta said. "Of course I'd like to be in the squad but at the moment after the injury I'm just thinking of my recovery, my recovery and playing well in every game. The other things will come if I play well for Middlesbrough."