'I'd love to come back' - Lewis O'Brien opens up on his Middlesbrough future and loan spell

Lewis O'Brien says he would love to return to Middlesbrough next season, but appreciates that the possibility might not be completely in his hands.

The midfielder has spent the majority of the season injured but has returned to the fold of late and been part of a really encouraging end to the season for Michael Carrick's side. Fitting in well in the Boro midfield, O'Brien has finally been able to show the class Boro recruitment chiefs knew they were getting when they worked hard in the summer to conclude a difficult loan deal with Nottingham Forest.

But with just two games remaining of that loan spell, O'Brien's future beyond this season remains uncertain. Contracted at Nottingham Forest for another two years, it remains unclear whether they will still be in the Premier League next season and, if not, whether they'd see value in keeping him at the City Ground. Should they avoid relegation, a Forest return seems unlikely, but there would still need to be a lot that falls into place for the 25-year-old to return to Teesside next season.

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Asked about his future, O'Brien said: "I don't have a clue, I'll have to see what happens in the summer. I've really enjoyed my time here and the time I've been playing. If it's the right time and the right things fall in place, I'd obviously love to come back here."

It remains uncertain at this stage whether O'Brien will be available in the summer, though if he is, it seems likely to be a deal that Boro would explore. A lot is likely to depend on the finances required to make the deal a reality while, as always, the potential of competition from elsewhere - as was the case when Boro tried to re-sign Ryan Giles last summer - could complicate matters further still.

For now, O'Brien is just focusing on trying to finish the season positively after a frustrating campaign overall. It's not been the easiest of seasons for the former Huddersfield Town standout. After just six appearances, largely out of position to cover gaps in the Boro squad at that time, he suffered a ruptured Achilles which required surgery and ruled him out for around five months.

Feeling he's now starting to show 'the real Lewis O'Brien', he said: "It was the first proper injury I've had in my career that kept me out on the sidelines for a while. It was tough but I did all my rehab up here with Boro. It was nice to be around the lads. They've given me a lot of support through everything, through the whole time.

"I still did the rehab here because I knew I'd be back before the end of the season but I didn't know how many games I'd play. Like I said, it's a bit unfortunate there was only three or four games left when I started getting into my full stride and really understanding how Michael Carrick wants me to play. Hopefully everyone will have seen that today.

"I felt like I had a bit to repay to the fans and players for how much support they've given me throughout the time I was injured to hopefully show them what I can do. Obviously it's a bit little too late at the end of the season.

"The physios have told me a few times I've done well to be coming back after the injury I had and played as many games as I have. In the last couple of games, it's been getting back to the real Lewis O'Brien and I think today [Leeds game] was probably the best you've seen of me."