WHEN Sam Greenwood signed for Middlesbrough late in the summer transfer window, there's no doubting which game he quickly looked for as he surveyed the Championship fixture list.

Not since Greenwood left his hometown club Sunderland to join Arsenal five years ago when he was 16 has the forward returned to the Stadium of Light to play the Black Cats in a senior fixture.

Given he grew up playing for Sunderland and all of his mates are big fans of the club, Saturday's Wear-Tees derby will be a surreal experience for Greenwood - and his dad.

"My family are all Sunderland fans, they'll be there, but I've put my dad in the away end with the Boro fans," laughed Greenwood.

"He doesn't mind. He's just supporting me, I'm sure he'll want Boro to win, he supports his son all the time.

"I went to school in Sunderland so literally all my mates are Sunderland fans but I just have to be professional about it.

"I'm a Middlesbrough player now and I'll fight for Middlesbrough. It's all about the team I'm at so I'm going to go for the win."

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Although it might be strange for some of Greenwood's family and friends to see the ex-Sunderland youngster lining up against his former club this weekend, the 21-year-old - on loan at Boro from Leeds for the entirety of the season - is delighted to be back around his nearest and dearest.

"It's brilliant being back in the North East, he says.

"I feel at home. I have my family around me, the lads have been brilliant with me, it's been spot on."

Greenwood will no doubt be desperate to play against his former side on Saturday, so with that in mind the timing of his first Boro start in Tuesday's win over Cardiff City couldn't have been much better.

After four appearances from the bench, Greenwood was in from the off against the Bluebirds, replacing the rested Matt Crooks in his favoured No.10 role, and he staked his claim with an eye-catching display

"It's down to the gaffer where or not I start but hopefully I've done enough," he says.

"It's a big game on Saturday. I'm sure we can get the win and keep pushing as a team."

Boro will head up the A19 on the back of three straight wins and a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions. Michael Carrick's side endured a rough start to the campaign but things are now starting to come together on Teesside.

Greenwood says: "I wouldn't say anything has changed, we always knew we had the quality, we just couldn't get the results.

"I think it was just a matter of keep fighting and now we have the momentum we'll keep pushing to reach our goals.

"It's been good for me so far. The lads have been great with me. I've been cup-tied which has been a bit frustrating but now I've had my first start I just need to kick on now."