The Middlesbrough full-back returns to Teesside on Monday following his impressive three-month stint at S6, armed with a series of rave reviews and list of admirers following a string of top-notch performances.

The sense of gushing appreciation is clearly mutual, with the Bishop Auckland-born defender having loved every minute of his time in the Steel City.

On possibly returning to Wednesday at some future point, McMahon told Yorkshire Sport: "Who knows? I'm not ruling anything out.

"My future is at Middlesbrough at the minute and I'll go back there and hopefully get some games. If they give me the opportunity, it's up to me to take it."

Getting some precious game-time has been just the ticket for McMahon, whose rise to stardom as a teenager with Boro in the 2004-05 season was checked by a nightmarish series of long-term injury woes – including a broken leg, medial ligament injury and a shoulder problem.

Having hit the comeback trail last season, McMahon damaged a hamstring in the early stages of a loan spell at Blackpool last winter, with the 22-year-old desperate for some luck and games upon heading to South Yorkshire.

Both parts of the bargain have arrived, with the only downside of his spell at Hillsborough coming when he was dismissed in the South Yorkshire derby against Barnsley at Oakwell on October 21.

It remains to be seen whether his displays have done enough to convince Boro manager Gareth Southgate to hand him a first-team spot, with McMahon competing with Justin Hoyte and also David Wheater – who has been used on the right and in the centre of the back four by boss Gareth Southgate this term – for a place.

But that's the hope at any rate with news of his performances and top-notch progress having filtered north to the Riverside management.

McMahon, captain of Boro's FA Youth Cup-winning side of 2004, said: "Coming to Sheffield has been perfect for me.

"I'd like to say thanks to Russ (Wilcox) and the gaffer, and everyone at Sheffield Wednesday, for giving me the opportunity to come and play some football.

"Gareth wanted me to go out and play regularly and Wednesday gave me the chance and I've taken it with both hands and I can now go back to Middlesbrough and fight for my place.

"I know Middlesbrough have been getting copies of our games on DVD and been up to see me play a few times.

"When I got suspended, I went back just for a week and the gaffer just said 'keep doing well and keep plugging away'.

"The plan always was to play 15 games and get my head down, work hard and wait for my opportunity at Boro."