Woodgate: "Why I Turned Down Newcastle"

Last Updated : 03-Mar-2007 by
Woody returns to St James' Park this afternoon for the first time since his departure for Real Madrid, wearing the red of Middlesbrough.

Much was made of the fact he wanted to join his home-town club, but he insists things might just have been different had Roeder talked about football more than the defender's suspect fitness.

Roeder explained that he would "have needed a crystal ball to know Woodgate would stay fit" and that was indeed a worry to him.

Woodgate: "Fair enough, that was his opinion but obviously it might have backfired on Glenn - who is a really nice bloke - a bit because I've come to Boro and stayed fit; sometimes you need to take a chance.

"I was always confident in my ability to stay fit this season. I'd done a full pre-season with Madrid and not had a niggle or felt anything. To be honest, even then, I also expected to get back into the England squad - and I think I can stay there.

"If we win tomorrow we can push for Europe. They're a good, strong side, with a lot of pace. Newcastle is a massive, ambitious club and I'm sure that sooner or later they'll get some silverware.

"Sir Bobby took a chance on me after all that stuff about the court case and I didn't let him down. Bobby's a fantastic man who had a big influence on me."