FORMER Barcelona midfielder Bolo Zenden is relishing a return to Spain tomorrow night, where he hopes to continue his run of six goals in six games.

He is also looking forward to meeting up with Middlesbrough teammate Gaizka Mendieta.

Spaniard Mendieta is back in his homeland recovering from an operation on a serious knee injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season.

But the 30-year-old, born in Bilbao, is expected to travel to the El Madrigal Stadium tomorrow night to see Middlesbrough aim to clinch a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup against Villarreal.

Zenden is hoping to catch up with Mendieta and is also excited by the prospect of taking on Primera Liga opposition again for the first time since leaving Barcelona in 2001.

The Dutchman enjoyed three years at the Nou Camp before moving to the Premiership in a £7.5m deal with Chelsea. He left Stamford Bridge in the summer to re-ignite his career with Boro.

The 28-year-old is hoping for his goal-scoring fortune to continue at Villarreal and he does not expect a recurrence of the racist jibes aimed at England's players in Spain a week ago.

"It's nice to go back because I haven't played in Spain since. Some old friends will be coming to watch and everyone will be eager to see how the ex-Barca players are doing," said Zenden, who knows another former Barcelona man Michael Reiziger is also missing with a shoulder problem.

"Unfortunately Mendieta can't make it because of his injury but I heard he is coming. It's not far from Valencia so it will be nice to see him.

"Villarreal are a very good side. They have some very good South Americans and have very good strikers - players with big names - and it will be very tough.

"I had no bad experiences during my time in Spain like those faced by England last week. It's a shame when things like that happen.

"The people in charge of football have to take care of those issues. If they don't then they will continue to happen."

After scoring the second of Middlesbrough's goals in the 2-0 win over Liverpool on Saturday - a success that extended the club's unbeaten run to seven league games - Zenden claimed he has never enjoyed a more goal-laden run.

The Maastricht-born midfielder has paid tribute to the man playing alongside him in the middle of the pitch, George Boateng.

Stewart Downing's emergence as a regular on the left flank has allowed Zenden to push on as a central-midfielder and form an understanding with his fellow countryman.

"Some may say we are talking Double Dutch in there but it's working well," said Zenden. "If you play in different kinds of positions it's hard to get settled. But I've been playing more and more in that role and it's going really well.

"George playing next to me really helps because he let's me go forward. George screams a bit more than me and I go forward more.

"I have a very good link with George. Many times we don't need to speak. We have known each other for a long time and it's paying off."

Middlesbrough's trip to Villarreal, gives them a quick break from their Premiership duties.

But Zenden wants Steve McClaren's men to return from Spain fully focused on trying to build on their fourth placing in the top-flight by winning at Tottenham on Sunday.

"In the league we have been doing superbly and we have a chance to stay up there in contention," he said.

"Anyone can beat anyone and it's going to be close. It's very hard to stay up there because everybody wants a piece of the cake. But we have to fight hard to do it. We like it that way and we have a good chance of doing it."