GASTON RAMIREZ has been challenged to use the next few days in Spain as the ideal way to get himself geared up for a crack at the Premier League again.

The Uruguayan playmaker has flown out with the rest of the squad for warm weather training on the outskirts of Benidorm.

It is chance for Ramirez to get himself tuned back into the task he faces with Middlesbrough as they try to stay in the top-flight this season.

The 26-year-old had demanded a move to Leicester City in the final week of the transfer window but the two clubs failed to reach an agreement over the terms of a possible £15m move.

Aitor Karanka, the Boro head coach, had always maintained that he didn’t want to sell a player they only bought during the summer on a permanent basis – or to a relegation rival.

Now Ramirez, who has been recovering from a slight knee problem, is to join in with the rest of the squad in the hope he is fit to face Everton on Saturday at the Riverside.

Karanka is confident the former Southampton and Hull man can still shine and prove his worth in the run-in ahead of an important few months of the season.

The Middlesbrough boss said: “Of course. The best way for him is to play and the best way for us is for him to play. He has to show to everybody how good he is. He showed this last season and this season.”

Ramirez was given a few days off last week to clear his head after an uncertain period in his Middlesbrough career. He was not the only returning face to have travelled to Spain, with George Friend also on board to work on his fitness.

Goalkeeper coach Leo Percovich is also with the travelling party even though he is still recovering from Achilles surgery.

Karanka hinted last week that Percovich is still a considerable amount of time away from working on the training ground again so Elche’s Marcos Abad has been persuaded to join Middlesbrough for the rest of the season.

Abad has joined up with the coaching team in Spain and will work with the squad following the departure of Eric Steele, who had been filling in for Percovich.

Middlesbrough are in desperate need of a lift ahead of the visit of in-form Everton because there are now just two points separating them from the relegation zone.

Midfielder Marten de Roon thinks Middlesbrough were unfortunate to suffer defeat in their latest Premier League fixture at Tottenham, where only a penalty separated the teams.

De Roon said: “We lost 1-0 and the crowd still clapped and shouted for us. I have said it before we have to go together.

“We have to stick together as a club and team, that’s the only way we can make things possible. I think with a little bit more luck, quality and belief in ourselves.

“We can do it, we have the team that can do it and that should stay in the Premier League. We have to believe in it and go together as a team at the Riverside to get a result against Everton.”