SAMBA superstar Emerson will make an eagerly-awaited return to the Riverside this evening claiming that, despite his controversial departure from the club, he remains a committed "Middlesbrough supporter".

The much-maligned midfielder spent an eventful 18 months on Teesside, in which he went absent without leave on four separate occasions and even threatened to give up football entirely to avoid a return to the North-East.

He was eventually jettisoned to Tenerife as Boro adapted to life in the Football League following 1997's catastrophic relegation, accusing chief executive Keith Lamb of treating him like a "manual labourer" as his exit became increasingly acrimonious.

Nevertheless, time is a great healer and, as he prepares to lead his current side, Xanthi, into UEFA Cup action this evening, the Brazilian has professed his continuing love of Middlesbrough.

"I tell all of my friends in Greece and Spain that, when it comes to England, I am a Middlesbrough supporter," claimed Emerson, who is a close personal friend of current Boro midfielder Fabio Rochemback.

"I have been pleased with the way Middlesbrough have built themselves back up. I played for six months in the First Division and, when I left, Middlesbrough were top of the league.

"I kept on looking at their results when I was at Tenerife and I was very happy when I heard they had been promoted. I still felt like I was a small part of that team.

"Since then, Middlesbrough have got stronger year after year. That has pleased me because there are still good people here who are involved with the club."

Emerson's spell at the Riverside coincided with one of the most topsy-turvy periods in Middlesbrough's history.

On the plus side, Bryan Robson's side reached both the FA Cup and League Cup finals and played with an attacking exuberance many feel has not been replicated since. But, at the same time, the club tumbled out of the top-flight amid rumours of a split dressing room and a lack of team spirit.

"We went to two cup finals and that had not happened in the whole of Middlesbrough's history," said Emerson. "The FA Cup final was incredible - we lost but it was still an amazing day.

"Those memories were tarnished a little bit because of everything else that happened, but it was still quite an achievement to get to the finals.

"I remember one supporter coming up to me at the end of the FA Cup final. He told me 'There is no problem - we got relegated, but it is not a problem. I am still very happy because we got to two cup finals.' That meant a lot to me."

Despite their relegation, many Middlesbrough fans continue to debate whether Robson's side would have outplayed McClaren's current crop. Emerson is quick to highlight the strengths of his erstwhile team-mates but admits that Boro have progressed since he departed.

"When I played, Middlesbrough had a good squad," he said. "Now, maybe they have an even better one. We went to two cup finals. We didn't win but, two seasons ago, Middlesbrough went to the final and won against Bolton. Perhaps that shows they have got even better in that time."