Boro boosted on injury front

MIDDLESBROUGH look set to be boosted by the return to fitness of Croatian ace Alen Boksic.

The former Juventus striker has been struggling all pre-season with a problematic calf injury, but he made his comeback in a behind closed-doors game on Tuesday.

Boksic managed to get on the scoresheet in a 6-0 win over Grimsby Town and he could now very well be in line to make the starting line-up for Saturday's opening Premiership game against Southampton.

Boro also saw the return to action of Carlos Marinelli, David Murphy and Colin Cooper in the Grimsby game and all of then have now joined Boksic in contention for the game at St Mary's.

"Juninho aside, it looks like we have an almost fully fit squad which is a great way to start a season," said manager Steve McClaren.

"I need to make two decisions over the next few days. I have to decide who is to take the left back role during Franck Queudrue's suspension and who will take Juninho's place upfront."