WHEN Dimi Konstantopoulos first headed for England 13 years ago he had dreams of becoming a top-flight footballer. A little later than he had hoped, the towering goalkeeper looks set to have his wish granted with Middlesbrough.

At an age when many would either be thinking about retirement or already have, Konstantopoulos will not be hanging up his gloves this summer.

In fact, quite the opposite, he will be preparing for the biggest season of his life and will be desperate to prove he deserves to be Aitor Karanka’s No 1 for the third successive season.

Konstantopoulos, who made his mark with Hartlepool on arriving in England and who turns 38 in November, said: “It’s the best feeling to be able to say I am a Premier League player. It hasn’t kicked in really, it probably won’t until later in the week. I have enjoyed the last few days and will enjoy my summer after a fantastic year. It’s been incredible.

“But it will be back to business and the focus will be on preparing for the Premier League. I feel alright, I know I am 37 but I feel fine and I already can’t wait for next season. I have been kept fit under Leo (Percovich, goalkeeper coach) and I am really looking forward to the chance.”

It is the second promotion winning season Konstantopoulos has enjoyed since moving to England from Greece. He was part of the Pools team which left League Two behind in 2007, the same year he moved to Coventry City.

There have also been unsuccessful play-off finals at the Millennium Stadium and Wembley, for Pools and Boro, while there have been celebrations after going up in Greece with Egaleo and Kalamata.

“I had a promotions with Pools and in Greece,” he said, who kept 22 clean sheets in the league this season. “They are all special but this time is different because it is the Premier League. Every player in the world wants to play in the Premier League.

“I am 37-years-old so this is probably the only chance I would have had left. I wanted to give it a go and I have done my best to get Middlesbrough there. I will try to do my best to stay in there for as long as I can.”

Promotion to the Premier League is a far cry from three years ago when he returned to the North-East to live in Hartlepool after a spell with AEK Athens and Kerkyra. He went on trial back at Pools, where they debated whether to give him a contract and the offer of a trial came from Boro's former boss Tony Mowbray.

Konstantopoulos said: “I trained one week with Pools, they didn’t want to give me a contract and Middlesbrough gave me one! It’s funny how things turn out and now I can’t believe what has happened. It’s been incredible with Middlesbrough.

“That’s why I never say never, things change week by week. You just have to push yourself as much as you can. I was offered a short-term contract and then from there I have tried to prove I could do it.”

But what should the Premier League expect from the new-boys? He said: “We have shown this season and the season before against top teams in the Premier League that we can match them. We have a good base, a good core with Premier League quality. With a few additions we will be very competitive, I’m sure.”

Promotion, meanwhile, means Boro will have to pay extra for Stewart Downing and Jordan Rhodes. It is understood that initial fees of £5m and £9m have risen to £7m and £12m because of clauses inserted into the agreements with West Ham and Blackburn.