As Rodrigo Possebon was stretched off the field taking gas, a gauge taken out of his leg just below his knee, the fear that his leg had been broken was massive. Minutes before, Middlesbrough captain, Emanuel Pogatetz came crashing in to our young midfielder, studs showing.

“That was my first sending-off since moving to Boro, which isn’t a bad record is it?” said Pogatetz. “I have been booked only once this season. I think that shows I am not a dirty player. I am physical yes. I like the physical side and it is part of football, but not dirty.”

What Pogatetz fails to mention is the fact he’s already broken one player’s leg and was banned from football for several months! He was just 22-years-old when he dished out a double leg fracture to Yaroslav Kharitonskiy, and only 25 when Possebon was on the receiving end of his studs.

He has been playing professional football for eight years and has dished out two appalling tackles in that time, both of which could be career enders, but he wouldn’t consider himself dirty…