 Gulliver came to Bournemouth in April |
Middlesbrough defender Phil Gulliver admits that he would welcome another loan spell at Bournemouth, after helping them to promotion from Division Three.
The 20-year-old, who has spent the last two months at Dean Court, played a key role in repelling Lincoln's aerial threat as the Cherries cruised to a 5-2 victory in the play-off final.
Gulliver, born in Bishop Auckland, has not yet broken into Boro's first team, and his season has taken him on loan to three different lower-division clubs.
He made four appearances for Blackpool in November and December and then joined Carlisle for one game on New Year's Day
In April he came to the south coast to help out at Bournemouth, who had lost three centre-backs to long-term injuries.
In his nine appearances in a Cherries shirt, the Teessider soon formed a good partnership at the back with skipper Carl Fletcher
He particularly caught the eye in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals as Sean O'Driscoll's side ground out a 0-0 draw on a difficult pitch at Bury.
Picking up a play-off winners' medal is undoubtedly the highlight of Gulliver's brief career, and he told this website: "I've enjoyed my time at Bournemouth, but to win at the Millennium Stadium has been a dream come true.
"I'm going to go back to Middlesbrough in the summer and use this as a stepping-stone for bigger and better things up there.
"But hopefully I could come back on loan and get some more experience like this, as I've been playing in the first team and getting games.
"It's up to Sean if they want me back - but I've really enjoyed it here, and it's games like this that make you want to come back.
"They've got a good blend of youth and experience, and the potential to go a lot further."
The likes of Michael Duberry, Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea have all worn Cherries colours during loan spells in recent years, suggesting that gaining experience at Bournemouth is not such a bad career move.
MMIX
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