AT times Dong-Gook Lee's Middlesbrough career has bordered on embarrassing. Regularly showing nice touches was not a substitute for scoring goals.

Now, having finally opened his account for the club, eight months after first arriving from Korean football, Lee is finally up and running.

With a stunning 25-yard strike that zipped off the surface and nestled into goalkeeper Mark Bunn's bottom left corner against Northampton, one of the superstar's of South Korea has scored his first goal in English football.

It may only have been against League One opposition, but Lee can at least now take heart and encouragement from the fact he has proven he can still strike a ball.

For months that has not looked the case. Now manager Gareth Southgate, actively on the look out for a new striker despite spending £6m on Mido, will be hoping better times are ahead.

The fans were beginning to turn on Lee and he could well have been one to have been sold off in January - he still could. But at least he has a platform to build on.

It is unlikely he will be able to conjour up 15 goals this season, but Southgate will be aware his Asian striker must continue to show a similar eye for goal.

Prior to his strike against the Cobblers, Lee had looked a nervous wreck. After going close with a decent header early on, he lost his touch and composure.

His goal, 24 minutes from time, highlighed to the 11,000 inside the ground that he does have something to offer after all.

It will be back to the bench again on Saturday when Birmingham come to town. But maybe, just maybe, this is the sign of better times ahead for Mr Lee.