UGO EHIOGU yesterday became the most expensive English defender in history as Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson splashed out £8m and backed him to revive his international career.

Ehiogu signed a five-year deal to finally draw a veil over an unhappy end to nine-and-a-half years with Aston Villa - and immediately mapped out his ambition to add to his solitary England cap.

The Hackney-born centre-back's only appearance for his country came as a substitute against China four years ago.

But Robson, whose gross spending as Boro boss has now topped £78m in six years, sees no bar to Ehiogu forcing his way back into the reckoning.

Ehiogu, who also attracted interest from Tottenham and Sunderland, has found himself in the shadows for much of the season after a fall-out with Villa boss John Gregory.

But, like virtually every other signing Robson has made, Ehiogu cited the influence of the Boro boss as the key to him taking the Teesside plunge.

"I definitely feel I can kick-start my England career here and get back in the team or the squad,'' said the 27-year-old, who began his career with West Brom.

"The main reason I chose Middlesbrough was the gaffer. I'm still looking to challenge for things and he's of the same opinion.

"There was a doubt in my mind until I spoke to him, but we had a chat and I was very impressed with his enthusiasm and honesty, and with what he wanted for the club.

"You can't help but respect him for what he did as a player and how he's turned Middlesbrough around.

"I used to watch him as a player with Manchester United and England - breaking his collarbone and everything!

"Middlesbrough is a sleeping giant and he's looking to build things. Hopefully I can start the ball rolling again.

"They've had some big names here over the years like Ravanelli, Emerson and Juninho and it shows they can attract players. That, again, is down to the gaffer.

"I had said I didn't want to make a decision about my future until the future of the transfer system was sorted out.

"But it was the gaffer's insistence and keenness to sit down and talk football that allayed a lot of my fears.

"I wasn't playing for Villa and I think this is the best way forward for me.''

Robson said: "I've felt over the last four or five years that Ugo has been one of the top defenders in England and I think he'll go on to prove that for another four or five years here.

"My challenge for Ugo is to go into the history books with Middlesbrough by helping us to win our first trophy and get into Europe.

"But the main challenge for him is to get into the England team. I look at the England side and the people who are in the set-up, and I feel he is good enough to play for England.

"I think he's got a lot of attributes like Gary Pallister. Ugo is dominant in the air and he's very quick.

"He's a defender you can leave one-on-one and you're confident he'll come out with the ball.

"But he's also got composure with his passing from the back and that's why I'm paying £8m for him.

"We said about a month ago that we probably wouldn't do anything until the future of the transfer system was resolved.

"But we've had discussions with a lot of people in the game and we feel it's a calculated risk bringing Ugo in.

"At the start of the season I lost a top player in Christian Ziege when he went for £5.5m - hopefully we'll have more by the time that situation is resolved with Liverpool.

"I felt I needed to replace him with another top player and that's why I was really keen when Ugo became available.''

Ehiogu confirmed: "Other clubs expressed an interest and it was quite a long process, but once I'd spoken to Middlesbrough, that was it.

"I've got as strong a belief in myself as the manager has in me.

"I've nothing to prove to John Gregory. I was probably at the lowest I've ever been. It would have been better had I not been playing for football reasons. Any professional can understand not playing for football reasons.

"But that wasn't the case with me and that was hard to take. There were a lot of things that warranted me leaving Villa. I felt I was going a bit stale there and that I needed a fresh start.

"I didn't get on too well with the manager, but in the end things were reasonably amicable between us.

"I had a meeting with him and cleared one or two things up. Then there was nothing left to talk about.

"I had an okay relationship with him until the summer. Not winning the FA Cup last season didn't help things, but I always felt I needed a fresh challenge and I said at the start of the season I wanted to leave.''

Villa star Paul Merson, who left Boro two years ago in controversial circumstances - claiming there was a culture of drinking and gambling at the club - didn't attempt to dissuade Ehiogu from the move.

"Paul has got an opinion about things, but he gave me quite an honest appraisal of the club,'' said Ehiogu.

"It wasn't a good time for Paul when he was here, but he seemed to suggest I would like it.

"To get a full picture, though, you have to come here and talk to the manager and the staff.''

Robson, meanwhile, insisted there was "nothing imminent'' on his move for AC Milan's Croatian midfielder Zvonimir Boban