RUDY GESTEDE has been reminded how quickly things can turn around ahead of a festive fixture list when rejuvenated Ashley Fletcher is determined to flourish with the responsibility of leading Middlesbrough’s line.

Boro have moved out of the relegation zone in recent weeks even though the defeat at Swansea City has left Jonathan Woodgate’s men just three points above the bottom three again.

Woodgate’s attacking options have been limited by injuries and he has had to rely on Stephen Walker and Tyrone O’Neill as his alternative strikers in the absence of Britt Assombalonga and Gestede.

But Gestede is available again and he only made his fifth substitute appearance of the season at the Liberty Stadium, even if it was his first since helping Middlesbrough score at Birmingham City on October 4. The Benin international, out of contract in the summer, has had a hard time on Teesside and was booed earlier in the season against Crewe.

 Gestede's team-mates are well aware of the frustrations but the £6m buy has been told to stay strong and focused because he can turn things around – hopefully over Christmas.  “It is never too late to turn your fortunes around here,” said Fletcher, who attended Middlesbrough's annual Champion Children's Party at the Riverside yesterday, as children were handed gifts from Santa after a difficult year.  “I went to Sunderland on loan and now I am back and playing. As a footballer you always have a chance to turn your fortunes round, whether it is for five minutes or 90. If Rudy can play and score then that will put him in a positive mindframe moving forward. He can have a big impact here.”

Fletcher is one of the first names on the teamsheet after a much-improved run of form and he has been playing with a smile on his face again. It is a far cry from his first 18 months at the club following his £6m move from West Ham.

“All I needed was games and a run of games,” he said. “This manager has given me that. At first here I was in and out, the manager last year didn’t start me and brought me in and I did well.  “The manager now is really good for me and working with Robbie Keane day in and day out is good for me. I feel really at home here. I wouldn’t want to be playing anywhere else and I am enjoying having that responsibility. Hopefully I can turn that in to more goals and assists.  “Ultimately the manage picks the team. All I have said is I need a run of games … can’t be just start two and leave me out the next and expect me to shine. A footballer needs rhythm.”

Middlesbrough know they need reinforcements in January to help the battle to climb the Championship. The situation has been reinforced by Assombalonga’s ankle injury, which has further restricted the options available to Woodgate.

But there is less money around the Riverside these days and Middlesbrough might have to be creative in the window, and that could mean players leaving – with a number of those players set to become free agents next summer.

“Britt has been injured the last two games so it has only been me and the young lads on the bench, Stephen and Tyrone. They have done well when the have come on, and now we have Rudy back to be fair to help,” said Fletcher.

“January we have seven or eight players out of contract as well so I don’t know what will happen with them. We have to focus on what is going on on the pitch.

“Things can turn around quickly. If you can win four or five games over the Christmas period then it can fire you up the table.”

And with Stoke City and Huddersfield – two teams in and around them at the wrong end – up at the Riverside on Friday and Boxing Day, Fletcher knows what has to be done.

“For us it is important because our home form is good,” he said. “These next two are big ones because if we can get good results out of them then we can go into West Brom and Preston trips with confidence.

“In terms of the result at Swansea it was a setback. There was a lack of discipline and we paid the price. We will take the positives from the game but now we have to win the game on Friday night. Stoke and Huddersfield now to come, those are vital.”  Middlesbrough have officially launched an appeal against Paddy McNair’s red card at Swansea City. Boro beat yesterday’s deadline to argue against referee Dean Whitestone’s dismissal.

McNair was one of two Middlesbrough players sent off during Saturday’s defeat at the Liberty Stadium but head coach Jonathan Woodgate has not contested Marcus Browne’s red. Browne faces a three match ban.