Middlesbrough defender Julio Arca is looking forward to an emotional return to the Stadium of Light on Saturday; his first visit since he left the Black Cats for Teeside in 2006. Arca has been linked with a move back to Sunderland recently.

"It will be a big day for me - an emotional day," Arca told the Sunderland Echo. "The club will always be special to me because Sunderland brought me over to England and I spent six years there.

"I have been back to the Stadium of Light a few times to watch games since I left and I am still in touch with one or two of the players. But it will be exciting to go back and play against Sunderland there for the first time ever.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I'm sure it will feel strange to go to the away dressing room and then come out of the tunnel wearing a different shirt, though! I hope I get a good reception.

"I have lots of friends at the club and the fans were always fantastic with me - and they still are, because I still live in the area. The Sunderland fans know me and they know I always gave 100 per cent for them.

"But I am a Middlesbrough player now and I will be giving 100 per cent for Boro on Saturday and playing to win. The Sunderland fans wouldn't expect anything else."