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Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith admits he is desperate to get back playing again after more than a year on the sidelines.

Smith, 32, has been out since October 2023 when he ruptured his Achilles in a match against Birmingham City.

The former Huddersfield Town and Stoke City player has undergone an extensive period of rehabilitation but hopes he is near the end of it.

"I'm on the road to recovery and hopefully I'll be back on the grass again sooner rather than later," he told 72+: The EFL Podcast.

Smith was Boro's regular right-back under boss Michael Carrick when he got injured, with Luke Ayling arriving from Leeds United, initially on loan in January, to cover for his absence.

The defender says he has "hated" having to go through his recovery period and he 'craves' a return to match action.

"I want to get fit as soon as possible," he said. "I've absolutely hated every single minute of his rehabilitation.

"I'm a firm believer that it will make me stronger mentally. But I just want to get back on the grass.

"I crave that routine of going in on a Monday morning and preparing for a game on a Saturday."