The Boro coach clarified that Mido was allowed to return home for a one-week break, as part of his treatment to a groin injury suffered last month.

"There have been stories about Mido going back to Egypt without permission, which is nonsense," Southgate told Boro's official site.

"He had an injection into his injury and we told him to go home because he had to rest for a week.

The Egypt striker aggravated a persistent groin injury in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on October 20th, and he has not featured since then.