LEE Cattermole returns to the scene of one the proudest moments in his fledgling football career when he steps out at Craven Cottage this evening.

Cattermole became the youngest captain in Middlesbrough's history when he was handed the skipper's armband by manager Steve McClaren in the Teessider's final fixture of last season at Fulham.

It was an historic day all round as 15 of the 16 man squad which travelled to west London were born within a 30-mile radius of the Riverside Stadium.

"I'll remember that for the rest of my life and every time I go back there," reflected Cattermole. "It was a massive honour and hopefully I will get to do it again sometime. It is my long-term ambition to be captain of the club."

The 18-year-old will not take George Boateng's armband for this evening's fixture, but it looks as if the club are grooming the talented midfielder as future skipper.

Cattermole has captained the club at every level and revealed great maturity when leading the reserves out as an inexperienced 17-year-old, three months prior to making his first team debut in Boro's 2-0 UEFA Cup win against Bulgarian outfit Litex Lovech last December. He has also captained the England Under-19s.

The Boro midfielder has revealed the club have opened the door for new scientific techniques and courses, and admits he is relishing the challenge.

"I've been doing a leadership course with (former coach) Steve Round," admitted Cattermole, who will make his 41st appearance for the club tonight.

"I got a list of 70 or 80 questions about different situations you could find yourself in. I filled in and it came back with a score. I got a really good rating.

"The science of football is something I am interested in. The gaffer knows that once you start getting on in the game all of this, the exercise and diets is a massive part of football now."

The temptations outside of football are massive too but if you are to make it as a professional footballer in the top flight it takes an unswerving amount of dedication and commitment.

Cattermole admits it has been hard to resist certain temptations, frowned upon inside of the football world, in the past but acknowledges the sacrifice will be worth it if he rises to the very top of the game.

"You couldn't get away with the George Best lifestyle now," admitted Cattermole. "You see all the foreigners who come over here who eat and drink well and are fit. You have to do things properly otherwise you wouldn't live out there on a Saturday.

"It is hard to balance it at the right time. If the club is doing well things aren't noticed but when they're not things are noticed.

"Friday is the worst part of the week for me because I am home alone and all of my friends are out in town.

"They know when the summer comes around I can go out but in the meantime I just keep my head down and keep out of town just in case I get caught up in anything.

"I always try to listen to what the other players say and they say it is worth it. You can't have it all, the money, cars, houses, girls and all the nights out."

Middlesbrough travel to Fulham tonight without a win away from the Riverside in the Premier League since Cattermole netted the only goal in 1-0 victory at Manchester City in March - 13 games ago.

He said: "We went to Fulham last year with a young team and we deserved to get something out of the game, but it was not easy.

"We need to get the first goal and then it will give us something to protect and build on."

While taking the captain's armband at Fulham was an undoubted highlight of his embryonic career it was not the most memorable.

"There was a lot of proud moments like my debut and being captain at Fulham," said Cattermole whose father, Barry, was a former player in Jack Charlton's time as manager in the 70s. "But I keep going back to the night in Rome (versus Roma in 2-1 loss).

"There was something about that game. It was a really big game and I seen all my friends in the crowd and there was banners.

"It was the first time I though 'bloody hell, what a stage this is'. And then we got through to the next round.

"I miss the European games they were some of the best nights last season at the Riverside.

"It was great for the fans too and their trips away.

"Hopefully we'll back there soon."