TONY McMahon paid his own personal tribute to former team-mate Ugo Ehiogu after scoring twice in City’s 3-0 win over Wimbledon.

Ehiogu died in the early hours of yesterday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest.

McMahon, who played with him at Middlesbrough, wore a black armband in his honour and pointed to the sky after both goals.

He said of Ehiogu: “He was someone I looked up to massively as a young lad.

“He couldn’t have done any more for me when I was coming through.

“My aim was to play in the Premier League for Middlesbrough and he was a massive part of that, not just on the field but off it with the way he was.

“He was hard on me but fair because he wanted to get the best out of me.

“He looked after me from me moving into the first-team dressing room right up to when he left.

“Obviously I can’t thank him enough and the least I could do today was pay my respects, not just to a top player but a top man.

“Everyone has said the same. He’s gone way too early – 44 is no age.

“He was fit as a fiddle and for someone to go that young is heart-breaking.”