Doriva's chances of earning a new contract at Middlesbrough have been boosted following Steve McClaren's glowing tribute to the midfielder's recent form.

The Brazilian has always been on the fringes of the Boro starting XI this season, but has found himself thrust into action more regularly with a host of injuries plaguing the squad.

The 32-year-old has been seen as George Boateng's deputy in the tough-tackling central role and began five successive matches before the Dutchman made his return at Crystal Palace ten days ago.

But when Boateng returned from a broken toe at Selhurst Park Doriva was the man to make way and take his usual place on the bench.

However, with Bolo Zenden missing against Arsenal on Saturday and out for the next couple of weeks at least, the South American has a chance to make large strides towards a new deal by forming a midfield pairing with Boateng.

Doriva, a big performer at the heart of Boro's play in the narrow defeat to the Gunners over the weekend, is out of contract in the summer and his situation is not seen as a priority for the club.

The news that Boro have moved to line up a year-long deal for Manchester United's young Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher will not have helped his cause either.

But, providing he can keep hitting the heights he reached against Arsenal, the former Porto man may be offered new terms.

Boro boss McClaren said: "Doriva stepped in for George during his absence and performed admirably. He is the unsung hero of the team, but ask the players about him and they love him. They love him in the team because he gives us so much and he gets some unjust criticism."

Doriva signed a one-year deal last summer and he is now in his third season at the club, having arrived initially on loan from Spaniards Celta Vigo during the 2002-03 campaign.

He turns 33 next month and faces an anxious wait to hear whether he will be one of those being retained by McClaren next season.

A player certain to be in the mix again come August is young keeper Brad Jones.

Jones, asked late on to fill in for first-choice Mark Schwarzer against Arsenal, is one of three rising shot-stoppers at the club who will be battling to become the new No 2 following Carlo Nash's departure to Preston.

The 23-year-old, whose loan at Blackpool had to be cut short last month because of an injury crisis on Teesside, is currently in control of the reserve team shirt.

And Jones, who made only his second Premiership start on Saturday, admitted he had a few nerves going into the encounter.

"I didn't expect it. Mark Schwarzer fell on his back in the warm-up and felt he wasn't capable of playing to his full ability for the match. Just after the warm-up had finished I was told it was me who was playing and to get ready," he said.

"That wasn't a problem because that's all part of the warm-up procedure. There were a thousand things going through my head when I was walking out. I'm not someone who gets nervous but there were a few butterflies."

Schwarzer will undergo tests with Boro's medical staff over the next couple of days to determine the extent of the injury.

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