boateng made his full debut on the first day of the 2002–03 season away to southampton in an uneventful game that finished 0–0. occupying the defensive midfield position, he became the solid platform upon which middlesbrough built their attack. he recovered from an ankle operation in the summer of 2003 to be fit for the start of the 2003–04 season. that season, he was part of the middlesbrough team which lifted the league cup for the first time.