Mido has become a Riverside hero since joining Middlesbrough in the summer, but he could improve his reputation when his side take on Chelsea and Manchester United in two successive Premiership clashes. The Egyptian striker wasn't lucky against England's high-profile teams during his spell with Tottenham Hotspur, scoring just once against Arsenal in a Carling Cup match. However, his non-scoring habits against big teams were affected by several factors that no longer exist at Middlesbrough. The fact that Mido had to battle three other strikers to claim a place in Spurs' squad hindered his progress at White Hart Lane and thus, didn't help him put in good displays against big team. Whenever the lanky striker was injured, the likes of Jermain Defoe, Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane easily filled his void. Consequently, he found opportunities limited even after becoming injury-free. But today, Mido is Boro's leading frontman and will have every chance to demonstrate his talent against Chelsea and United. Mido Vs Chelsea Mido will be hoping to erase bad memories when Middlesbrough host Chelsea on Saturday in the Premiership. The former Ajax and Marseille man was sent-off in Tottenham's match against Chelsea in 2005 after referee Rob Styles adjudged him to have elbowed Asier Del Horno. He had a brief chance to make up for the disappointing incident when he was introduced as a late substitute for Berbatov in Tottenham's 3-3 FA Cup draw with Chelsea last March. However, the amount of time he was given wasn't enough for him to show his true worth.
Boro manager Gareth Southgate confirmed that Mido will be fit to feature in the anticipated game after recovering from a hamstring injury. The Pharaoh's task to break through the Blues' defense will be eased by the absence of formidable defender John Terry who sustained a knee injury that ruled him out of the game. Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim is likely to take his place, alongside Portuguese Ricardo Carvalho. Both men are not so perfect in aerial challenges, something which Mido could take advantage of. Middlesbrough's in-form winger Stewart Downing will be responsible for providing pinpoint crosses to the 24-year-old Egyptian ace. Mido Vs United Mido's task against United will be much difficult, given the solid defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. The Red Devils have the best defensive record in the Premiership so far. They conceded just twice since the beginning of the competition. Serbian defender Vidic and England's Ferdinand have all the attributes to keep Mido at bay. They perfectly match the physical demands of the prestigious league. Furthermore, both men become very aware during opposing set-pieces, making it difficult for any striker to rise and catch the ball. It remains to be seen whether Mido can score his first ever goal against United and delight the Boro faithful.
