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On-loan Boro striker Patrick Bamford says the arrival of Didier Drogba at Chelsea prompted his latest loan exit.

The 21-year-old striker netted his 13th goal of the season in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Millwall, and continues to set the Championship alight.

His form on Teesside has not gone unnoticed as Bamford looks to fire Boro to promotion in the coming months - but talk of his long-term future will then arise when he returns to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Bamford revealed he expected to stay at Chelsea and fight for a first-team place this season, but the writing was on the wall when the club re-signed legend Didier Drogba in the summer.

“Jose Mourinho hasn’t really outlined the plan for my career,” Bamford was quoted in the Metro.

“I was going to stay there this season, that was the original plan, but when the chance to bring Didier back arrives, you can’t really turn down Drogba, can you?

“Then Jose gave me the choice whether I wanted to stay and play bit-parts - but a very minimum amount of football - or I could go out on loan.

“He said Boro would be a great option. It was an easy choice in the end.

“He said he would be in touch and obviously they’re keeping their eye on me.”

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Bamford finished off a wonderful Boro team move against the Lions, and will now look to continue his goalscoring form when he returns to boyhood club Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The England Under-21 striker made his professional debut at Forest in December 2011, and despite being substituted against Millwall, Boro boss Aitor Karanka says his front man is fit and raring to go at the City Ground.

“It was nothing serious to Patrick and the score was comfortable so I had no doubt about substituting him,” Karanka told the club’s website.

Meanwhile Boro’s squad will be bolstered in the coming weeks with Daniel Ayala expected to return from his thigh injury within the next week, while Damia Abella is three weeks away from fitness following his cruciate injury.

Mustapha Carayol played 75 minutes for the Under-21s against Wolves on Monday, following his 11-month lay-off.