Middlesbrough: Yak struck down with Malaria

Recent Middlesbrough signing Yakubu Aiyegbeni has revealed he recently contracted malaria - but insists he should be fit for pre-season training next month. The Nigerian hit-man will complete his 7.5 million move to The Riverside from Portsmouth when the transfer window reopens on July 1.

However, he pulled out of Nigeria's forthcoming World Cup qualifier with Rwanda sparking criticism from some quarters in his homeland. The striker has now come out to defend himself and insists a bout of the potentially-fatal disease malaria was to blame for his withdrawal, but is hopeful he will not be laid low for an extended period.

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