New Middlesbrough signing Alan Browne said his loan move from parent club Sunderland to Teesside was the "ideal scenario".
The midfielder told BBC Radio Tees that he was expecting a different move, but a late call from Boro boss Rob Edwards tempted the Irishman to join the Black Cats.
"I had interest elsewhere, and I was probably more inclined to go there, but the night before the window closed, the gaffer rang me up and said they were interested - and it ticked a lot of boxes for me," Browne said.