JORDAN Rhodes has vowed not to go over the top with his celebrations if he marks his Middlesbrough debut with a goal against the club he has just left.

Rhodes netted 85 times in 169 appearances for Blackburn Rovers following his club record £8m transfer from Huddersfield Town in August 2012.

But this afternoon he is set to line-up for Middlesbrough for the first time after making a deadline day move from Rovers to the Riverside Stadium.

You would not blame the travelling supporters for feeling a sense of inevitability about what could happen.

Rhodes had a habit of scoring against his former clubs when he was at Rovers.

He bagged six goals in as many games against Ipswich Town and six in seven against Huddersfield.

And Rhodes, when asked if he would celebrate finding the net against Rovers, said: “I’d like to think it would be muted, I've tried to have that in mind when I’ve played against Brentford, Ipswich and Huddersfield before.

“I’ve tried to have muted celebrations but you don’t know how the game is going, when or if you’re going to score, what time it may be. I’ll try not to be.”

Rhodes will also make a swift return to Rovers when Middlesbrough visit Ewood Park on March 1 for the second meeting between the Championship rivals in little under a month.

And Rhodes said: “I really enjoyed my time at Blackburn. I’ve made friends for life there and so many good memories along the way.

“Everyone around Blackburn was terrific for me and I really do wish them all the best in the future and hopefully things do go well for them.”