EX-Middlesbrough midfielder Caolan Boyd-Munce says he feels like he has a point to prove as he prepares for his first full season with St Mirren.

The midfielder left Boro by mutual consent at the end of the January transfer window after agreeing with the club to end his contract 18 months early.

It was a bold move but one the 23-year-old midfielder, who made four senior appearances for Boro, felt he had to make as he set off in search of regular first team football elsewhere.

At the end of March, he agreed a short-term deal with St Mirren and although he only made one start and three appearances for the Scottish Premiership side, the Buddies activated the option to extend his deal by a further year.

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Now, Boyd-Munce is determined to make the most of the opportunity and says he wants to "quash the doubts" - not about his quality as a player but about his fitness and physicality.

“Getting fit has been huge for me. I’ve pretty much went a whole season without football so I’ve got to get up to speed again," he told the Paisley Daily Express.

“I’ve been so excited to come away this pre-season and prove myself. I honestly haven’t stopped working on my fitness over the summer. On holiday in Greece I was running every day. I even took the scales with me!

“There’s never been a doubt over my technical ability throughout my career. But the question has always been ‘Can he run? Can he be more physical?’.

“I want to quash that right off the bat this season and I will 100% be using these pre-season games to show the gaffer I’m ready and available to play.”

Boyd-Munce's sole start last season came in the defeat to Rangers on the final day of the campaign.

He said: “It wasn’t a great result against Rangers, but I loved the challenge. They were very strong and it was a great test for me personally in that midfield."

Boyd-Munce will link up with former Boro teammate Zack Hemming, with the goalkeeper having this week joined St Mirren on loan for the coming season.