MIDDLESBROUGH midfielder Christian Karembeu insists he "adores'' English football - even if his wife hates the weather and the food.

Wonderbra model Adriana Sklenarikova is reported to be struggling to come to terms with life in the North-East and longing to spend more time in Paris.

But France star Karembeu, whose early days with Boro have been blighted by a niggling knee injury and indifferent form, maintained: "I'm enjoying myself with Middlesbrough.

"I am settled here and I adore English football. My teammates have helped me to settle. I just hope I can do better than I already have done.''

Boro are unbeaten in five matches in all competitions after making a patchy start to the season.

Bryan Robson's side have failed to win in four Premiership home games, but Karembeu, who arrived in the summer from Real Madrid in a £2.1m deal, declared: "We believe in ourselves.

"We are playing much more like a team now, but we must play like that at home.''

Karembeu gained valuable match practice when he played 90 minutes for France in their goalless draw with South Africa in Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, skipper Paul Ince has been fined £15,000 and warned about his future conduct after his angry blast at referee Rob Styles in Boro's controversial 3-3 draw at Derby last month.

l Nicky Summerbee has rejected a chance to escape from his Sunderland nightmare, writes JACK LESLIE.

The winger, who has controversially vanished from Sunderland's first team squad, turned down a move to First Division Bolton.

Now Summerbee is in danger of not playing again before his contract at the Stadium of Light expires at the end of the season.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce wanted to sign 29-year-old Summerbee on loan before pushing through a permanent deal.

But Allardyce revealed yesterday: "Nicky wants to wait for a Premiership club to come along for him."

Summerbee's refusal to drop into the First Division leaves him in limbo at a time when many Sunderland fans want to see him in the team