BOLO Zenden has praised Middlesbrough's board for securing goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer for another three years, but has urged them to offer teenager Tony McMahon a similarly long-term deal.

Schwarzer will put pen to paper on his new contract next week after agreeing to commit himself to the Riverside until 2008.

The Australian international had been linked with moves to both Manchester United and Arsenal but, instead, he will remain on Teesside as Boro aim to maintain the momentum they have built up in the last two years.

Zenden, who is out of contract himself in the summer, is yet to open discussions over a new deal of his own.

But, after helping Boro end their trophy drought and make their European bow in the last 12 months, the Dutch international is delighted that one of the club's leading lights will not be bidding farewell in May.

"It's good for the team to know that Mark will be staying with us," said Zenden. "He's a very good goalkeeper, and I'd heard that there were several other teams interested.

"It's great that Middlesbrough have been able to keep him and it should give a bit of a boost to the rest of the team.

"Mark has been here for eight years and he's seen the development that the club has made.

"The club has gone to a different level in the last two years and I presume Mark wants to be part of the exciting times that we have at the moment, and the times that will come in the future.

"If Middlesbrough had gone into the transfer market and tried to sign a goalkeeper of Mark's quality, it would have cost them a lot of money. Good things don't come cheap.

"Instead, they've got a goalkeeper who's already here so, effectively, they've been able to sign him on a free transfer by giving him an extension."

Schwarzer's contract discussions began in the summer, and the Australian initially turned down Boro's offer of a new deal before eventually agreeing to stay at the club.

Similarly, McMahon has dismissed Boro's first attempts to tie him down although the full-back's agent, Ian Elliott, has confirmed that further talks are planned.

The 18-year-old has been a revelation this season, and his importance will be underlined tomorrow when he is expected to make his 15th start of the season at Norwich.

Zenden has been impressed with the development of Boro's young guns, but insists it is vital the club holds onto its brightest young talent over the next 12 months.

"I think Tony McMahon has been fantastic," he said. "He played ten games on the trot at one stage, and did absolutely fantastically in all of them.

"He's another player that's coming to the end of his contract, and I think it's very important for Middlesbrough to keep a player like him at the club.

"The youngsters like Tony and James Morrison are players that Middlesbrough should be proud of. In the future, they are players you can have a lot of fun with.

"They're also people who come from this area and they have a connection with the town."

McMahon made his senior debut at Old Trafford in October, and the full-back will return there next week after Manchester United finally overcame Exeter on Wednesday night.

An away game with the reigning FA Cup holders would normally instill fear but, after losing just one of their last four games on the ground, Boro will kick off their fourth-round tie with understandable optimism.

"It's a major game," said Zenden. "It's another big test to be playing against Manchester United again.

"Playing at Old Trafford is always a fantastic occasion and, in the past, we've always had very interesting games there.

"I'm sure it'll be another interesting game this time, and it's one that I'm definitely looking forward to."

* Four Middlesbrough players have been called up to the England Under-19 squad for next month's friendly in Belgium. Tony McMahon, Matthew Bates, James Morrison and Andrew Taylor are all in the squad for the game in Zulte-Waregem on Wednesday, February 9. David Wheater is on standby.

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