Abstinence makes the fans grow fonder

PAUL GASCOIGNE was voted man of the match by television viewers and given a yellow card by the referee yesterday when he returned to play football for Middlesbrough just a week after checking out of the clinic where he had been receiving treatment for his alcohol and stress problems.

More than 34,000 supporters welcomed back the prodigal player whose rapid return to the game has surprised many after his binges and bad behaviour ended in tears at a Hertfordshire railway station last month.

Gascoigne, who was substituted 12 minutes from the end of the match with Nottingham Forest, was reasonably happy with his performance. "I have a bit more work to do at the clinic. I have to go there twice a week for the next month. Hopefully I won't be drinking, in fact definitely."

The match ended in a 1-1 draw.