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Boro striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni's inability to honour Austin Eguavoen's Nations Cup invitation has now turned big a blessing to the former Portsmouth star.
...Middlesbrough lethal stiker says he has no regrets dumping Nigeria during the Nations Cup, as his game is now on the rise
Boro striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni's inability to honour Austin Eguavoen's Nations Cup invitation has now turned big a blessing to the former Portsmouth star.
The Nigerian player believes that the key to his current form was his decision not to go to Egypt with Super Eagles earlier this year after a fall out with national coach Eguavoen, and he's happy that he's moving up in his career.
Premiership clubs are now scrambling for Yakubu's signatures even as he continues to score for Boro against dreaded sides in England.
"I made a decision not to go to the African Cup of Nations. It was a big decision for me - but I'm not regretting it,"Yakubu stated in the Boro's website.
Yakubu had vowed not to desert Middlesbrough as he attempts to establish himself as one of the most potent marksmen in the world.
The 23-year-old star has plundered 18 goals for the Teesiders since his £7.5million summer move from Portsmouth to illustrate exactly why he believes he will be able to mix it with the best in the business one day.
Boro manager, Steve McClaren has admitted that, should Yakubu's rapid development continue, he could be forced to fend off big money approaches from the game's aristocrats for a player with a blossoming reputation.
However, the former Portsmouth star insists his immediate future lies at the Riverside Stadium.
"I only came to Middlesbrough seven months ago and I'm not thinking about leaving now," he said. "It's not in my mind because I'm happy here, I'm happy to be here.
"You never know, I might stay maybe two or three years here - but I want to stay here more than that, that would be nice. It's a good feeling to be here, I have never regretted coming here."
Yakubu's goals have helped Boro climb away from relegation trouble - 13 of them have come in the Barclays Premiership, where they faced struggling Birmingham at home last Saturday - and to progress in the FA and UEFA Cups, although he has been used sparingly in Europe as McClaren rotates his frontmen.
To put that achievement into perspective, no Boro striker has managed 20 goals in a season since Fabrizio Ravanelli did it in 1996-97, and it is more than 50 years since the club had a player reach that mark in the top flight alone.
Both targets are within Yakubu's reach, although his personal objectives stretch further.
"It's not in my mind to break the record, but there is a chance to score 2-0 goals," he said.
"It's not easy to score 20 goals. It would be good for me and for the club too. I've been here (in England) for almost four years now and doing so well at Portsmouth and now Middlesbrough - it's a big club for me - there are a lot of people who believe in me, and I believe in myself too. I don't want to let myself down and let the people down who believe in me. But I can't afford to be carried away.The most important thing is to do my job, work hard in training and games and give everything I can. If you want to be the best, if you want to be a good player, you have to give everything."
Winger Stewart Downing could return to the squad after missing the 2-0 victory at West Brom with a knee problem, and although McClaren admits the England international has perhaps tried to do too much, too soon in his bid to keep his World Cup dream alive, he is looking forward to the rest of the season with relish.
Just a few short weeks ago, the manager was under intense pressure, and he insists recent results have only intensified that situation.
"I feel more pressure now because for me, this is when the season begins," he said. "We have put ourselves in a great position - the last 16 of the UEFA Cup, the last eight in the FA Cup - and for me, this is where the pressure begins."