MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren is expected to field two of his fledglings against Grazer tonight - Stewart Downing and James Morrison - while a number of Academy players have travelled with the squad to Austria, writes Paul Fraser.

It is a far cry from Arsenal's controversial 16 that defeated Crystal Palace on Monday - when Arsene Wenger chose not to name a single Englishman in his Gunners squad.

McClaren backed Wenger's decision by claiming every club has its own youth and transfer policy.

"Europe has become smaller and Arsene summed it up perfectly when he said he doesn't look at nationality, he looks at ability," said McClaren.

"Arsenal have a terrific team and it just so happens that none of them were English on Sunday. At Middlesbrough we go down a different route and we are proud of that. We do try to bring in young players and develop them.

"Those who say where's the next Wayne Rooney going to come from when things like Arsenal happen are wrong, I think you will. There has been a lot of talent coming through over the past five to ten years and it will keep happening.

" Managers build football teams how they have to build them."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.