'I'm back' roars Gazza before Riverside return

Gazza is back in town today as Middlesbrough face Everton for the first time since the Geordie joker's summer free-transfer move to Merseyside.

And the arch-prankster has been up to his old tricks, announcing his return to the Riverside by leaving a mischievous message on Boro boss Robson's mobile phone.

Robson revealed: "Gazza's been in touch. He left a text message saying: 'I'm coming to get you, gaffer - love Gazza!''

The quiet life has returned to the Boro dressing-room since the departure of the hyper-active Gascoigne.

His former teammates were regularly on the receiving end of Gazza's practical jokes and Robson added: "There's never a dull moment with him.

"It's a bit quieter here these days. No-one is getting their trouser legs cut off! The lads were sorry to see him go, but at least it's saved them money on clothes and flat tyres!''

Gazza's most daring escapade saw him commandeer the team coach, drive it out of Boro's Hurworth training base and pull up at the nearest bus stop calling: "Anyone for Spennymoor!''

But too many times - amid the marriage break-up, admission to a clinic with stress and drink-related problems and recurrent injuries - it was the tears of a clown that were the focus of attention.

Gazza wept in despair when he broke his arm almost seven months ago in what proved to be his last appearance for Boro, after he lashed out at Aston Villa's George Boateng in a fit of frustration.

Many predicted he had pressed the self-destruct button once too often and that his career in England was at an end.

But Everton boss Walter Smith, who had 33-year-old Gazza in his charge at Rangers, threw him a lifeline when Robson decided to cut his losses on the enigmatic midfielder, little more than two years after luring him from Ibrox in a £3.45m deal.

Robson, however, yesterday admitted: "I've still got a lot of affection for Gazza. He's a player with tremendous ability. He's a great reader of the game with a great passing range and he can still do tricks in matches that other people can't.

"He's a top player when he's fit. If he stays clear of injuries, he can do well for Everton.

"He did a tremendous job for us in his first quarter-season here because we won five out of the last six games to gain promotion.

"I thought he was outstanding the next season in the Premiership up to Christmas, but after that he had injuries all the time.

"If he hadn't had the injuries and the personal problems, it might have been different and he might have still been here.

"But once you've had a serious injury in your career you always pick up other injuries, like muscle strains. Gazza's had two serious injuries to his knee and that's why he does tremendously to play at the level he still does.

"People with lesser ability would have maybe packed the game in.

"But he loves it so much that he still tries to fight through it all. No matter what people say about him going on binges, he trains as hard as anybody you've seen and that's the type of character he is.

"He's tough as well because, if he's in pain, he'll try to run through it. A lot of people want to knock him and they won't write the truth.

"He's a target and to a certain degree he's put himself up there. His fame has put him there as well.

"But that doesn't alter the fact that, when his mind is on the job and he's not depressed because he's injured, he works hard.''

Gazza has made two starts and two substitute appearances this season, but has yet to complete 90 minutes in a match.

"He's done quite well so far, but I've always said Gazza has got great ability,'' said Robson. "He'll enjoy coming back here and he'll want to try to prove me wrong.

"We know all about him and we know he can hurt us, so we'll have to make it a quick, hard game for him.

"I think the fans will be fine with him because they know that in his early days here he did a great job.''

Sentiment aside, Robson conceded: "We haven't won at home yet and we need a win here. We've got to entertain our fans.''

Robson, meanwhile, yesterday insisted there had been no fall-out with Colombian striker Hamilton Ricard, who was omitted from the squad for Wednesday's dramatic 3-3 draw at Derby.

"There was a report I'd had a bust-up with Hamilton, but that's rubbish,'' said Robson.

"I explained to him when he came back from international duty on Tuesday that I had so many forwards who were fresh and he'd been away with Colombia, so it would be better if he just trained to be fresh himself for the weekend. He's still very much part of my plans.''

l Bryan Robson has blamed Derby duo Dean Sturridge and Deon Burton for costing Boro a top-four spot.

Sturridge and Burton sparked a furious cheat row when they failed to return possession at a throw-in after Boro skipper Paul Ince put the ball into touch to allow treatment for teammate Phil Stamp.

Derby scored their second goal from the corner that followed as they fought back from 3-0 down.

Rams' manager Jim Smith insisted his players were justified because Boro were playing for time and also claimed Alen Boksic cheated to earn the game's opening goal from the penalty spot.

But Robson said: "Jim's tried to turn the whole thing round by saying Boksic dived, but you can see from the replays it was a clear penalty. Then he said we were time-wasting.

"But Jim's just trying to make excuses for his players. The two players know they were out of order.

"We could have been fourth in the table with seven points, but we're tenth with five and it's because of ungentlemanly conduct by the two Derby players.''

Robson, however, admitted: "We have to look at the way we dealt with crosses in that game. The defending wasn't good enough.''

Boro gradually fell apart at the back after losing Gary Pallister with a groin strain which rules him out today.

l Jeffrey Evans of Ormesby wins a pair of tickets for today's clash after correctly answering that Boro beat Everton 2-1 last season