Boro keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos could end season travelling with Greece to World Cup finals

Dimi Konstantopoulos has gone from fourth choice keeper at Boro to the main man and in with a chance of going to the World Cup

Shot-stopping surprise package Dimi Konstantopoulos started the season just making up the numbers at Boro.

So he can barely believe he could finish it travelling with Greece to the World Cup finals.

Dimi had been released by AEK Athens and was back in the area with his Hartlepool-born wife just kicking his heels.

He was drafted in to Hurworth by then boss Tony Mowbray during pre-season when injuries left Boro short in training.

Dimi was behind Jason Steele and Jayson Leutwiler and then when Shay Given arrived on loan in October he found himself fourth choice.

With his rivals injured Dimi grabbed his chance after Given went back to Aston Villa and now he is the main man.

The commanding net-minder has been catching the eye – and he could be catching the plane to Brazil in June.

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Chris Vaughan/CameraSport

Dimi Konstantopoulos

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Since stepping into Boro’s first team Dimi, 35, has kept five clean sheets in nine impressive appearances. And his fantastic form has been noticed by Greek national boss Fernando Santos.

Reports in Athens suggest the boss is watching Dimi closely with a mind to calling him up for the Greek World Cup squad.

“It’s a possibility,” Dimi admitted. “But I’m not really thinking about it.

“All I can do is just perform in every game for my team and keep as many clean sheets as I can. But if it happens obviously it would be fantastic.“

Dimi played nine times for the national Under 21 side and won one full cap in 2010 in a season at Kerkyra in which he won the Greek Keeper of the Year award and a move to big boys AEK.

Since then Panagiotis Glykos, of PAOK, and Alexandros Tzorvas, of Apollon Smyrni, have vied for the shirt but both have wobbled this year. And that could open the door.

“The manager hasn’t been in touch formally but I’ve been told they are keeping an eye on me and I am back in the mix,” said Dimi.

“It is up to the manager. There’s not a lot I can do except keep playing well.”

Such a prospect looked very unlikely when Dimi signed a short-term deal with Boro last August.

That was extended in January as Dimi broke into the squad and made his debut in the 2-0 FA Cup defeat to finalists Hull. Now the club are in talks over a new contract with the keeper firmly established as Aitor Karanka’s first choice.

“That’s the beauty of football,” he said. “Everything can change very quickly. In football when you are given a chance, you have to make the best of it.

“When I came to Boro I said if I got a chance I would prove myself. That is the same wherever I am and whatever I do.”