Steve McClaren is delighted with the progress made by Massimo Maccarone.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren is delighted with the progress made by Massimo Maccarone.Injuries meant that, at the weekend, Maccarone was handed his first Boro start since his return to the club after a year on loan in Serie A with Parma and Siena.
Maccarone, who was asked to play on the right, performed admirably against Arsenal and grabbed the winning goal.
McClaren feels the Italian international has come back to the club a better player.
"Massimo has come back and is a lot more mature. His talent has never been in doubt," said McClaren.
"He is a high class striker and showed against Arsenal what a good player he can be when he his confidence is back."
McClaren was also pleased with young winger Adam Johnson, who made his Premiership bow in the win over Arsenal and is just the latest product from Boro's ever fruitful academy.
"We asked Johnson to play like that against Arsenal on his debut and that is what the club and I are all about," added McClaren.
"We will put them in, ask them to sink or swim and another has swum. It bodes well for the future."
