Mido played 45 minutes in the 3-0 defeat against Fulham but won praise from manager Gareth Southgate.

"I was pleased with the impact that Mido made," Southgate was quoted as saying by The Evening Gazette.

"That was what we needed. It was just a pity that we couldn't make better use of it, because the second goal killed the momentum we had created."

The Evening Gazette said that Mido's form will likely earn him a place in the starting line-up against Everton on Boxing Day.

The 26-year-old Egyptian international scored four goals for Boro in the Premier League this season.

He will be starting instead of Brazilian striker Afonso Alves, according to the paper.

Middlesbrough are placed 14th in the Premiership table, just two points ahead of the relegation zone.