Middlesbrough midfielder Joh Obi Mikel signed a six-month contract with the Teessiders when he left Chinese Super League club Tianjin Teda in January.
Since moving to the Riverside Stadium, the 31-year-old has been a first-team regular under Tony Pulis, having made nine league starts,
Fans on Twitter were asked by Boro’s official Twitter account if they had any questions for a Q&A with Mikel, and many are asking whether he’ll extend his stay:
Please will you stay next season! And manage the team ?
— Jack Gunn (@jackgunn2) 20 March 2019
Will you be staying for another year
— Matthew Mcclelland (@MatthewMcclel17) 20 March 2019
Is they any chance you will stay here another season
— wayne burnett (@wanaldinho) 20 March 2019
Will you finish your career here please? ?
— Glenn Colin Melvin (@glenncm2812) 20 March 2019
Will you stay if we don’t get promoted??
— SPIKE11 (@SpikeArmstrong) 20 March 2019
Will u stay with us in the summer? Plz
— Cameron Herd (ALPHA MALE) (@cherd03) 20 March 2019
Other supporters were more pessimistic, asking why he would join a club with Pulis as the manager:
How much do you regret joining a team managed by Tony Pulis?
— Connor (@ConnoReney) 20 March 2019
How does it feel playing Pulisball?
— Dan (@DanAaron_86) 20 March 2019
What’s it like going from winning a champions league and playing in a World Cup to having Tony Pulis as your boss?
— Danny Taylor (@DannyTaylorDT) 20 March 2019
However, Mikel has been praised by Pulis for his influence in the changing room, with the Middlesbrough boss, much like the fans, hoping that he remains at the club next season:
“It’s not just on the pitch where we need him, it’s on the training ground as well, when you’ve got young lads who are training and working with a top, top international player who’s won everything, it certainly inspires them.”
“Hopefully fingers crossed John will be here (next season) and we’ll get the job done and win promotion.”
Much may depend on Boro being promoted to the Premier League. On recent form, that is looking less and less likely with the Teessiders currently clinging on to a place in the playoffs.