MIDDLESBROUGH'S newest teenage star Danny Graham has admitted he could have been plying his trade at the Williamson Motors Stadium this term if Steve McClaren hadn't given him the incentive to stay and fight for his Riverside future.

The 19-year-old was on loan at Darlington last season and, after two goals in seven starts, Quakers boss David Hodgson was keen to make the move permanent.

McClaren made it known there was a move along the A66 if he wanted it, but also offered the Gateshead-born youngster a few words of encouragement that proved pivotal in his career.

On Saturday at Notts County Graham came off the bench at half-time to help inspire Boro to turn around a one-goal deficit that ensured the Teessiders wouldn't be another FA Cup their round giant-killing victim.

"Going on loan at Darlington was great for me," said Graham, who has already made his Premiership bow at Old Trafford this term and scored his first senior goal for Boro in the 3-0 Carling Cup win over Coventry.

"It gave me a lot more confidence as a player. The manager told me at the end of last season that Darlington were willing to take me on a permanent basis.

"But he also told me he was going to take a look at me in pre-season and fortunately for me I did well in pre-season and I haven't been sent out on loan so I must have been doing OK at the moment."

Graham scored a hat-trick for the reserves in midweek against Leeds to make it ten goals in 12 appearances for the second string this season.

That form has alerted several clubs looking to bolster their strike force but the teenager has been boosted by McClaren's insistence he stays put.

He is under contract until the end of the current campaign and is hopeful of earning a new deal at the Riverside.

"It was another confidence lifter for me (what McClaren said). I just got my head down pre-season and worked hard.

"I've done well in the reserves and I'm just pleased to get my rewards like playing in the FA Cup.

"I didn't expect to come on at half-time. I thought I might get a little run-out but to come on at half-time was a bonus.

"The change was purely tactical. We were getting beat 1-0 so he decided to put an extra striker on so we could get the result we really wanted."

The extra work on the training ground has been vital in more ways than one with the youngster learning as much watching the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka.

He said: "I've worked a lot on my weaknesses. I train every day with Malcolm Crosby and the other first-team coaches and I'm improving as a player every day.

"Working on holding up the ball, finishing and bringing other players into the game.

"Working on general team play to improve me as a player that way. Training with players like Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka every day gives you a lot of confidence."

* Geremi's proposed £3m move to Teesside now appears unlikely after the Chelsea midfielder played in the 3-1 FA Cup win over Scunthorpe on Saturday.

Talks were at an advanced stage with the Cameroon international but the player is now cup-tied for both Boro's UEFA and FA Cup campaigns - reducing the chances of any move before the summer.

However, a return to Teesside for the player who spent a highly successful loan spell with McClaren in the 2002/03 season would still be welcomed by Joseph Job, who said: "Back then he was Boro's best player of the whole season.

"The Boro fans loved him and if he came back he'd be a great signing for the team."

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