'I've had a hip replacement, but it will be well worth it'

Juninho and Fabrizio Ravanelli are among the Boro greats heading back to the Riverside for the Legacy Game [Getty Images] The Riverside is set to host over 30,000 fans on Sunday as Middlesbrough legends from down the years celebrate the club's 150th anniversary in a Legacy Game. The match will see two squads of former Boro players go head-to-head at 16:00 BST. Also on the agenda, ex-players and coaches will be presented with legacy certificates during two separate ceremonies before a lap of appreciation post-match. Among the dozens of names set to attend include stars of the Premier League era including Juninho, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Yakubu, Joseph-Desire Job and Christian Karembeu. Former Italy international forward Ravanelli - who scored a debut hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against Liverpool in 1996 - told BBC Radio Tees it was set to be an emotional day for him. "I am very excited. When I come back to Middlesbrough it's a fantastic experience," the 57-year-old said. "I want to (see) my friends and especially the fans." Another former striker set to feature is Egyptian Mido, who told BBC Radio Tees: "I'm excited, training very hard. I am excited to see the Boro fans again and some old friends. "I always loved living around Teesside. I loved the people. I am very excited to be back and hopefully it's going to be a great weekend to spend time with some old friends." George Friend captained Boro as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Bolton on their way to promotion in 2016. [Getty Images] "It's a privilege to be a part of the club" Also taking part are players including 2016 promotion winners George Friend, Daniel Ayala, Adam Clayton, Emilio Nsue and Dimi Konstantopoulos. Friend told BBC Radio Tees: "I left with 299 appearances and I am counting this as one to make it 300 and nobody can say anything against that. "I feel it's going to be such a great day. Not just people from my era at Boro but a whole host of players form the past. It's really exciting. "I grew up watching the Bryan Robson era and I used to pretend to be Mikkel Beck in the garden. It might be a bit surreal seeing some of those guys there but what a great thing to be a part of - being on the pitch with people I grew up admiring. "It will be incredible to be around those guys and for me personally to see ex team-mates and staff. It will be really special. "And seeing the fans... I left at a time when fans weren't even in the stadium." Despite being born in Devon, Friend, who had spells at Birmingham and Bristol Rovers before retiring two years ago, added: "It's my club, my daughters were born on Teesside. It's part of you. It's going to be a special time. "It's a privilege to be a part of the club. Maybe there'll be young people in the crowd on Sunday who go on and become part of the history one day as well." Carling Cup winners Franck Queudrue and Danny Mills, 90s stars Jan Age Fjortoft and Craig Hignett, as well as club legends like Bernie Slaven and Tony Mowbray are also attending. The weekend also features an event at the Town Hall on Saturday evening as Hignett hosts The White Feather Returns , an evening with Fabrizio Ravanelli. Hignett told BBC Radio Tees: "It should be a brilliant day, 150th birthday, I know the club have tried to push the boat out, they have asked absolutely everybody, there's been a really good response to it, I think it will be a fabulous day. "I've had a hip replacement, I know I'm going to be in a little bit of pain after it but it will be well worth it." Latest Middlesbrough news, analysis and fan views