Middlesbrough midfielder Gaston Ramirez has spoken of how he is excited to make his return to Southampton when the two sides meet on Sunday, the Teeside Gazette can report.

The Uruguayan signed for Saints in the summer of 2012 for a club record fee of £12 million under Nigel Adkins and despite him showing his undoubted quality on some occasions, he could never really settle down on the south coast and turn in the performances he was capable of on a consistent basis.

It will be nice to go back to Southampton. I still pretty much know everyone there. It will be good to go back.

His tenure with Saints lasted four years until the end of his contract and during that spell, he had a rather unsuccessful loan spell at Hull before taking the step down to play for Boro in the Championship.

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Unsurprisingly, he excelled and made the switch to the Riverside this summer on a free transfer.

The creative midfielder has been in good form and will look to hurt his old club on Sunday afternoon when Claude Puel’s men welcome Aitor Karanka’s side to St Mary’s.

Saints are in need of a big win to boost morale after some disappointing results as of late.