Form man Lee Tomlin is dreaming of promotion to the Premier League so he can test himself against the world's best players - and to be able to provide a better life for his family.
The gifted forward is the first to admit he's fortunate to be in the position he is now.
Released by Leicester when he was just 16, Tomlin started from the bottom of the football ladder, even being loaned out to Brackley Town by Rushden & Diamonds.
A trial at Liverpool which came to nothing is the closest Tomlin has been to the Premier League but the visit to the Etihad in the fourth round of the FA Cup left Boro's No.10 desperate to make sure the chance to tackle the world's best isn't reliant on an annual cup draw against one of the big-boys.
"I was looking at Silva and Aguero and thinking, 'What's someone like me doing on a pitch with players like that?' It was unbelievable," he told MailOnline.
"While you're on the pitch you have to concentrate on your job.
"I was marking James Milner but I kept finding myself watching David Silva. I was looking at his positioning and trying to learn what's required to get to the top."
That desire to get to the top has seen Tomlin lose a stone and a half since he signed for Boro at the start of last year.
After an upbringing in a tough part of Leicester, Tomlin admits he struggled to take criticism from coaches and didn't apply himself as he should have done early in his career.
But that can't be said of his time on Teesside.
January's Championship Player of the Month is in the form of his life at the moment with the burning ambition of playing at the top level and being able to support his family.
"I want to be able to provide a better life my family," he said.
"And I want to get my mum out of that council house."
Tomlin added: "People would see me and think I didn't even look like a footballer in the past.
"But I've lost a stone and a half since I came to Boro.
"I've been doing things right for the last two years, eating right, working hard.
"I can still be a joker but I know when it's time to work and when it's time to have fun."
Tomlin came within an inch of scoring one of the goals of the season in the last round of the FA Cup when he turned Vincent Kompany in magical fashion before firing a strike with the outside of his boot against the post.
He was one of several players rested for the trip to Blackpool in mid-week but is expected to come back into Boro's side for the fifth round clash against Arsenal on Sunday.
"Sanchez, Cazorla and Ozil, they're my kind of players," added Tomlin.
"Arsenal is another chance to show what I can do."
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