Middlesbrough striker Alvaro Negredo says he made a mistake by leaving Manchester City in 2013 to return to the Spanish La Liga.

The Spanish striker played for City during the 2013-14 season and helped the Blues to a league-and-cup double that season.

The 31-year-old enjoyed a great start to life at City, netting 23 goals in his first six months at the club but he admits that his season was dampened by injuries before moving to Valencia, before joining Boro this season.

‘I started the season well and the fans saw what I could do when I was 100 per cent fit,’ Negredo said.

‘But from February I suffered from a shoulder injury which I never really recovered from.

‘When you have a niggling injury like that, it stops you showing your best form. And I don’t feel I ever regained the manager’s trust.’

The former Almeria striker admits that he made a mistake by leaving the Premier League for the La Liga but insists that he is delighted to be back in England again.

‘I do think I made a mistake to go back to Spain when I was doing things well in the Premier League,’ he added.

‘But thankfully now I’ve been given the chance to come back and start this other chapter here in England again.’

Manchester City will now welcome Middlesbrough to the Etihad Stadium when the two sides meet in the Premier League on Saturday.

Kick-off has been set for 17:00.

Image: Manchester City website