Injury niggles and competition meant the former Derby centre-back made only 10 Premier League appearances in 2007/08 and spent a month-and-a-half playing with Stoke in the Championship.

However, Boro boss Gareth Southgate gave the 28-year-old a chance to impress in the first team back in August and he has impressed as the Teessiders have risen to eighth in the table.

"It's a great game when you are playing," Riggott told the Evening Gazette.

"I haven't been playing out of my skin, I've just had a few steady games but people say 'you're playing well' and that's nice.

"The main thing is keeping fit and enjoying my football and right now I'm doing that. It's nice playing and it's nicer still playing in a winning team."