JUNINHO last night begged Steve McClaren to let him off the leash against Newcastle United from the start of Wednesday's derby.

The Brazilian came through Saturday's 45-minute run-out in the draw with Everton unscathed after a six-month lay-off with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Now, after crowning his Riverside return with the equaliser, Juninho has a place in the starting line-up in two days' time in his sights.

He said: "The Newcastle game is a big match - and if the manager wants me to start, I'm OK to do that.

"We'll have to see if the manager wants me to start on Wednesday, but I'll get better with every game.

"I felt better at the end of this game than I did after Tuesday's reserve game.

"Let me play a few more games, and then I'll be at the same level of fitness as everyone else.

"Everyone has been saying to me in training that I look OK, and I feel OK, too.

"Players have been telling me I look as sharp as they do.

"I've waited a long time for this. Only someone who has been out for so long can explain how it feels to be out for so long.

"I celebrated my goal with Bob Ward, the physio, because he knew what it was like for me to be out for six months."

McClaren was typically cagey when asked if Juninho might force his way into his first XI for the Tees-Tyne derby.

The Middlesbrough manager said: "Juninho is in contention. We'll have to wait and see if he starts."

After 19,450 fans turned out to see the £3.8m midfielder play for the reserves against Bradford City last week, Boro's fourth biggest home crowd of the season saw the World Cup winner make his third Premiership debut for the club.

His goal rewarded the supporters for showing patience during a turgid first half for Middlesbrough, who were much brighter after Juninho was part of McClaren's triple substitution. Juninho said: "I've always had a special relationship with the fans.

"It meant so much when they cheered me at the start and after the goal.

"That's what makes me so happy to be here, and I just wanted to show them I could still do it and to say thank you to the supporters.

"I'm delighted to be playing at this ground again. Tuesday was great but this was special.

"It was a wonderful day for me and I feel like I've never been away, despite the injury."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.