LUKE YOUNG today thanked Boro and their fans for their help and support during his year with the club - and backed his replacement Justin Hoyte to be a big hit on Teesside.

The 29-year-old right-back contacted mfc.co.uk to deliver a heartfelt farewell message following his sudden £6m departure to Aston Villa.

"I'd like to thank the fans for being good to me last season and everybody at the club for all their efforts to help me settle into the area so quickly," he said.

"I really enjoyed myself and if it wasn't for another club coming in for me I would have been more than happy to stay.

"But an opportunity came up and I think everybody can see it was good for all the parties involved.

"The club more than doubled their money in a year and they'll be pretty pleased with that, although the manager said he's losing a good right-back.

"I was happy and really enjoyed myself and I want to thank the manager for buying me in the first place.

"But the offer was too good to turn down. At the age of 29 I've got the chance to play European football straight away.

"They're building something at Boro but at my age an opportunity like European football here and now was one of the reasons I moved."

Told that Boro had completed the signing of Justin Hoyte, Young said: "That's brilliant because I think he will be a really good player and he should be ready to go into the team straight away."

The former Charlton defender was also delighted that Wales U21 international Rhys Williams seized his chance while filling in at right-back, scoring a wonder goal in the 6-1 friendly win at Sparta Rotterdam.

"Rhys is a good player," he said. "When I first arrived at Boro I asked him why he wasn't in the first team squad, because I saw him in training and he was very good on the ball and had a lot of ability.

"In fact the first thing I noticed was the quality of the young lads, even some who are not in the first team squad, they're obviously doing something right in the Academy.

"The difficulty will be keeping them happy when they're not playing because the likes of Jonno will want to be involved more and more."

Young stayed back in Birmingham to build up his fitness as he was ineligible for his team's 4-1 UEFA Cup qualification victory over Icelandic side Hafnarfjordur last week, although he will be available for future rounds.

He made his debut yesterday with an assured display in his team's 4-2 win over Manchester City, although there was a scare when he conceded a penalty equaliser before a seven-minute Gabriel Agbonlahor hat-trick earned Villa all three points.    

But although he is now beginning a new phase of his career at Villa Park, he won't forget his time on Teesside, with his Goal of the Month winner against former side Spurs among the highlights.

"That will be it now, the best goal I will ever score," he smiled. "I'll have many fond memories and it's a shame I only managed the one year.

"I just want to wish everyone all the best for the new season and hope they do really well."