STEVE McClaren has cheekily suggested that Newcastle's supporters should be cheering for Middlesbrough in this evening's Tyne-Tees derby, if they want their side to be involved in next season's UEFA Cup.

Last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United left the Magpies in 14th place in the Premiership, and all but ended any hopes of a top-seven finish.

Graeme Souness' side are preparing to enter the much-maligned Intertoto Cup as a result, but the number of games they will face in the competition currently depends on where Middlesbrough finish in the Premiership.

If both clubs end up in the Intertoto, the highest-placed qualifiers - almost certainly Middlesbrough - will enter at the third round stage while the lowest-placed side - almost certainly Newcastle - will begin two games earlier.

But, should Boro earn automatic entry to the UEFA Cup next month, the Magpies will become England's entrants in round three.

That will give Newcastle's players two more weeks in which to prepare for next season and, with tonight's game likely to prove crucial to Middlesbrough's European hopes, McClaren has jokingly suggested that local rivalries should be put to one side.

"I think it's in their best interests if we qualify for Europe," said the Boro boss, who is yet to taste success at St James' Park. "That might help them have European football next season.

"If we can finish in Europe, it might help Newcastle in terms of what they're trying to do in the Intertoto. If they know that, they might help us out.

"But seriously, the most important thing on our agenda is to qualify for Europe. Our cause has got to be greater than our opponents' over the next four games, and that starts with the game against Newcastle."

European qualification has become the Holy Grail for a Middlesbrough side that has not been out of the top half of the Premiership since the end of August.

The club crashed through a psychological barrier when they made their European debut in September but, despite enjoying notable wins over Lazio and Partizan Belgrade, McClaren admits that much of this season's momentum will be lost if they fail to secure a return ticket to the continent in the next three weeks.

"This football club has got a lot of attention this year," he said. "People all over Europe know Middlesbrough now. It's not just a small town in Europe - it's on the map..

"Some of the (UEFA Cup) victories we had this season made people sit up and say 'Middlesbrough football club are progressing well'.

"But we need to take that on. It can't just be one season. We've got to make sure we stay at the centre of attention."

Middlesbrough have certainly progressed since McClaren first locked horns with Newcastle some three-and-a-half-years ago.

Alan Shearer scored twice, and Mark Schwarzer saw red, as the Boro boss' second home game at the Riverside ended in a humiliating 4-1 defeat.

The 2001-02 season ended with Boro 12th and Newcastle fourth but, since then, the two clubs have moved in different directions.

"I remember the game well," said McClaren. "I suppose it shows the progress we've made at this football club over the last four years.

"One of our aims was to get close to Newcastle. They were the top team in this region and were always in contention for the Champions League.

"The gap was massive four years ago, but I think we've closed it up. We're enjoying a successful season but, at the same time, we can't under-estimate Newcastle.

"They were having a good season as well. They were almost in their second semi-final of the season, but one bad week meant that, suddenly, everyone was talking about a disaster."

McClaren's first meeting with the Magpies established a pattern that has been repeated regularly ever since.

Newcastle won - they have triumphed in four of the six subsequent games between the two sides - and Shearer bagged a brace.

The Magpies skipper has scored ten goals against the Teessiders and, perhaps ominously, goes into tonight's game in the middle of a lengthy barren run.

Shearer has not scored in eight league games and, staggeringly, has scored less Premiership goals from open play this season than Boro full-back Franck Queudrue.

McClaren is convinced the former England captain will alter those statistics before the season's end, but is desperately hoping he does not rediscover his goalscoring touch tonight.

"Whenever we play against Alan Shearer, he is always a concern because of his record," admitted the Middlesbrough manager.

"He is always capable of scoring and Newcastle are a very attacking team. They always score goals and Alan Shearer has again shown why is a great player. He is top scorer again.

"People do hit barren spells and we have had our own strikers who have done that. But it will turn - let's hope it's not against us and he goes nine games without a goal."