MIDDLESBROUGH are hoping Joseph Job will complete a move back to France this summer - nearly five years after Bryan Robson brought him across the English Channel.

With the growing likelihood that Massimo Maccarone will be rejoining Boro for pre-season training on July 4, the need to offload both Job and Szilard Nemeth is increasing.

Manager Steve McClaren has eight strikers on his books following the capture of Aiyegbeni Yakubu from Portsmouth and Nemeth is attracting interest from Premiership newcomers Wigan.

It seems that Job, who holds fond memories of his time in France, looks destined to move back there before the start of the campaign.

The 27-year-old enjoyed a successful five-month loan spell at Metz during McClaren's first season in charge and they are keen on taking him again.

There have also been admiring glances cast his way from St Etienne, Toulouse, Lille and former club RC Lens in the past and the striker is hoping to re-ignite a stuttering career.

In five years he has made just 74 starts for Boro and has scored 22 goals, including the opener in the club's historic Carling Cup success in February last year.

Despite his Millennium Stadium heroics, Job has always struggled to find a regular place in the team and he claimed earlier this year that his stop-start Boro career has been down to a lack of trust from his boss.

"I need to play and I want to play. I don't see my situation improving - that's the problem. The manager has his idea about me and I don't think I can change his mind. It really shows how much he trusts me and that's disappointing," Job said towards the end of the campaign.

Job stands a better chance of playing in next summer's World Cup for Cameroon if he is playing regular first-team football.

As he only has one year left on his contract, Boro would not be looking to recoup the sort of money they forked out when Robson paid £3m to Lens in August 2000.

There remains interest in Mark Viduka from Newcastle but only a substantial offer would tempt Boro into selling just one year after his move from Leeds.

Having paid £4.5m last summer, Newcastle are likely to be put off by the high price-tag and at least £6m would have to exchange hands if Viduka was to move.