ONE of Matthew Bates' closest pals in football believes the Middlesbrough captain has already shown the mental strength to bounce back from serious injury - and will do it once more.

Bates underwent surgery on his knee earlier this week in a bid to overcome the fifth cruciate ligament problem he has encountered during his career.

It is thought the operation was a success and the hope is he will make a return to full fitness in around six months, which was perceived to be the best case scenario when he suffered his latest problem.

That in itself has provided Bates with a boost and those close to him suggest he is intent on making another comeback from an injury which has threatened careers before.

Lee Cattermole, the Sunderland captain who has been good friends since their time at the Middlesbrough academy together, has had his own injury problems over the years. Nothing, he feels, must compare to what Bates has gone through in the last six years.

Cattermole said: "I would not know what he has been through. I'm terrible when I'm injured. I am the worst injured player ever. I find it very hard to get focused.

"The last time Matty had one, he went over to America and I'm sure it did him the world of good. When this one settles down again, I'm sure he will get his head around it again - he can do that.

"I'm sure he will focus, have a good summer, get a good rehab. Matty is a winner. You don't become a footballer overnight, you have to have a strong character and Matty has that.

"Matty is the captain of Middlesbrough after four cruciates, there wont be many players like that around. Everyone at Middlesbrough respects him, I'm sure Matty will come back stronger than ever."

Bates missed the entire 2009/10 campaign while he recovered from the fourth knee injury of his career, having felt it go again during a pre-season friendly at Carlisle United in July 2009.

To make matters worse this time around, the 25-year-old's contract will expire at the end of June, when he had been hoping to sign a new deal after helping Middlesbrough back to the Premier League.

Earlier this week Boro boss Tony Mowbray outlined an intention to help Bates back to fitness, which is likely to be when discussions over a new deal would take place if he makes a full recovery.

And Stockton-born Cattermole, aware of the respect there is for Bates around the Riverside Stadium, said: "It is such a shame with Matty. He has shown such great character to come back from four cruciates. That was unheard of.

"When he gets over this I'm sure it will be inside him to bounce back again. He will want to prove people wrong. He is captain of Middlesbrough and I'm sure they will show him good faith."

Bates' problem - picked up during last week's draw with Ipswich at Portman Road - has also prevented Mowbray from relying on his skipper for the promotion run-in.

The Easter weekend will be a crucial period of the campaign for Middlesbrough. After slipping out of the top six, they can ill-afford to emerge from the next two games without a victory over either Cardiff and Hull City.

Both Cardiff and Hull sit directly below Middlesbrough in the Championship, with only five points separating ninth-placed Hull with fifth-placed Blackpool.

With such uncertainty surrounding which division Middlesbrough will be playing in next season, Mowbray is no rush to make decisions over the futures of players who will become free agents in the summer.

Bart Ogbeche and Malaury Martin, who signed short term deals when they arrived, are among those who could leave. Mowbray said: "I don't see any real urgency to make a decision. I'm delighted for them when they've come off the bench and impacted on the team. They are good players to work with. Moving forward we don't need to make any decisions."