CAIRO: Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate quashed rumors accusing striker Ahmed “Mido Hossam of returning to Egypt without the club s permission.

The Boro coach clarified that Mido was allowed to return home for a one-week break as part of his treatment to a groin injury suffered last month.

There have been stories about Mido going back to Egypt without permission, which is nonsense, Southgate told Boro s official site.

He had an injection into his injury and we told him to go home because he had to rest for a week.

The Egypt striker aggravated a persistent groin injury in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Oct. 20.