GARETH SOUTHGATE hopes that Middlesbrough’s youthful squad can follow Emanuel Pogatetz’s example of how to recover from injury – despite the defender wanting to do too much, too soon.

Pogatetz has been out of action since April after undergoing knee surgery but is nearing a first team return after he appeared for the reserves again yesterday.

The sight of Pogatetz facing Bradford in a 4-0 win at Billingham Synthonia was a relief to Southgate, even if he was taken off at half-time as a precautionary measure after a hamstring tightened up.

His appearance arrived just a week after the centre-back was forced to withdraw from reserve action because of another slight set back, but the indications are that he is well on the road to a long-awaited comeback.

The Austrian’s determination to do extra work to speed up his recovery prevented him from playing in the previous two reserve matches, but his boss would not change his approach.

Rather than asking him to take things slowly, Southgate hopes Pogatetz’s commitment and desire to return to full fitness has been noted by his team-mates.

“He is doing everything asked of him and is desperate to do more,” said Southgate.

“He knows the level he is at, at the moment, so he has needed a bit of reserve team football. He has had a long period out and it’s a case of getting his strength and fitness up to the right standard.

“He was coming in for three sessions a day at one stage. He would be in at the training ground for an 8am session, then train with the rest at 10.30am and have a break through dinner before finishing in the gym on the afternoon.

On top of that he would be having treatment and he’s been playing for the reserves.

He is a really dedicated professional.

“I know all the medical staff here would like to keep working with him, even if they would prefer him to be playing again.

“It’s just he is a joy to work with in the treatment room.

He is so motivated and so responsive to everything that is asked of him.”

It is that sort of mentality Matthew Bates has shown time and time again, having had to endure three cruciate knee ligament injuries, with the latest of those ruling him out for the rest of the season.

Southgate, though, wants others to follow the pair’s lead.

“The young players should take note. All of the top players during my days as a player had that intention to commit their time and making sacrifices,” said Southgate.

“They didn’t worry about being in here at 7am or 7pm it was all about what was needed to get back on the field.

“When we went to the World Cup (in 2002), Beckham put the hours in that were needed to recover from a foot injury. But it would be wrong to single him out. They all do.

Gerrard, Lampard, they are always on the field, invariably.

“When they say Gerrard is out for four weeks he is back within ten days, he just has that desire to play.

“Probably they take risks that others won’t. Your career is short, though, and as a big player you want to play in all the big games.”

Southgate accepts that Pogatetz has to be held back from doing extra work on occasions, but he feels that players normally know what is best for their own rehabilitation.

“Some players have more enthusiasm about working to get fit and they will ask for more work. That’s a good thing but you have to be careful not to do too much,” said Southgate, who will not call on last season’s skipper for Saturday’s visit of Watford.

“In my mind you know your own pain threshold and you know how much you can push on. It’s in the mind. Most top players are prepared to put themselves on that edge a bit more often. He falls into that category.”

Cameron Park, Nathan Porritt, Gary Martin and Danny Hawkins scored yesterday.

Boro: Steele; Atkinson, Smallwood, Pogatetz, Corker, Porritt, Pilatos, Saiko, Park, Franks, Martin. Subs: Ripley, Hawkins, L Williams, Shead, Otte.