JORDAN RHODES has spent the best part of a decade trying to make the step up to the Premier League – and now he hopes Middlesbrough will give him a chance next season.

Rhodes was part of the memorable celebrations over the weekend when Boro secured a return to the top-flight after earning the point they required to claim one of the automatic promotion spots.

Top-flight status has guaranteed Middlesbrough a cash boost of £95m for just playing in the league next season, while parachute payments mean the Teesside club are actually certain of bringing in around the £270m mark at least.

The extra money flying around means Aitor Karanka, who has been backed to stay on and lead them in the Premier League by chairman Steve Gibson, will have a significant transfer fund to work with over the summer.

And Karanka is sure to look to strengthen his attacking ranks, despite only being given the go-ahead to spend £9m – which has risen to £12m following promotion – on Rhodes last January.

The 26-year-old has been desperate for a chance to prove he can reproduce his excellent Football League goalscoring record with Huddersfield and Blackburn at the highest level and his appetite has been whetted.

Rhodes said: “We just want to start again next week, but that’s not the case. We will enjoy the summer and all of our celebrations first.

“But to play a minute or two at some point in the Premier League next season would be a lifetime ambition fulfilled.

“That’s what you strive to do whether you are nine, ten, a Sunday league footballer or a professional. You wake up dreaming of being a Premier League footballer and hopefully I will get to fulfil that ambition next season.”

Rhodes did not score as many as he would have liked after his move from Ewood Park and had to settle for regularly swapping with David Nugent on the bench. However, the six times he did score actually contributed to seven points in Middlesbrough finishing second.

But he didn’t want the focus to be on his achievements and performances, claiming promotion is the result of everyone at the club’s commitment and desire to deliver it.

“There has been a lot of hard work, a few dips and bad results here and there,” said Rhodes. “I came here with the club doing well and that club has finished in the top two. It’s fantastic.

“That group of boys, that staff, everyone linked with the club, we all fully believed we could do it and we have.

“I have to make a special comment to Brighton, they finished on the same points, there were two goals in it, so while we will celebrate, a thought has to go to them. It’s amazing how you can be separated just like that – and we go up. We can’t wait though.”

Rhodes, who was a second half substitute for Nugent last Saturday, was on the pitch when there was an invasion of supporters desperate to celebrate a return to the Premier League after a seven year wait.

He said: “That is why you play football, for days like last Saturday. It was fantastic for the area, for the fans, all the playing staff and staff who have worked behind the scenes. It is a real collective effort. It is what this football club deserves.

“It means so much to so many people, so for us as players to go out and play every Saturday – or whenever the games are – and play 90 minutes, that’s the easy bit. To give so much joy and hope and create a lifetime of memories for the people who were there, it’s almost surreal. It’s fantastic to be part of something special and ultimately it will go down in history.”