STEVE McCLAREN has told unsettled striker Joseph Job to forget about leaving Middlesbrough in the transfer window and concentrate on preserving the club's place in the top six.

The Cameroon striker grabbed his first goal since August in Wednesday's defeat of Partizan Belgrade and then revealed his frustrations at being unable to become a regular.

Since the arrivals of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka in the summer, Job has had to play the waiting game until McClaren has decided to rest one of the first choice pairing.

But the 27-year-old believes he warrants a starting place on a more regular basis and claims he may have to consider his future if his wishes are not fulfilled.

However McClaren, expected to name Job on the bench again for today's visit of Aston Villa, dismissed out of hand the suggestion that the former Lens forward may be sold in January.

And the Middlesbrough boss, who is expecting striker Malcolm Christie to return to training on Monday after a long lay-off, suggested that even the prospect of a loan deal is a no go.

"Joseph is too vital to us. His contract was up in the summer and that's why we signed him on again," said McClaren, who handed the player a two-year deal in July. "There's no point letting him go. There's no way he's going anywhere because we have a hectic schedule at this football club and he is a major part of this club.

"The speculation has grown after what's been said from both Joseph and Szilard Nemeth, but they have gone and performed when the opportunity has come along.

"Szil and Job did a fantastic job in midweek and it's not a first XI game it's a squad game nowadays. There's no chance of Joseph leaving in January, he is needed here."

Both Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka never played together under Villa boss David O'Leary at Leeds United, as they were there at different times.

And O'Leary has claimed since leaving that he would have loved to have paired the two together at Elland Road when the Whites were gunning for glory in the Champions League.

Hasselbaink had just left when Viduka arrived and now McClaren is getting the opportunity that his opposite number today never had.

"I'm not surprised David wanted them to play together," said McClaren. "They have been fantastic for me. They have scored goals and even when they haven't scored they have been in form without scoring. They helped the team and created chances elsewhere."

The 15 goals shared by Hasselbaink and Viduka this season have been a major part of Middlesbrough's rise to fifth in the Premiership and through to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

Yesterday's third round draw in Nyon paired the Teessiders with Austrian champions AK Grazer and victory in that two-legged tie will earn a fourth round clash with either Feyenoord or Sporting Lisbon in mid-March.

McClaren welcomed the draw with Grazer - currently fourth in the Austrian League - and is looking forward to a date at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium, where he has previously been with Manchester United when they faced Sturm Graz.

But as well as looking forward to February's fixture in Grazer, the Middlesbrough boss is keen to make sure they qualify for European competition again.

"We have had a taste of Europe and now we want more. Nobody can underestimate finishing top of our group. The fans the players all of us have had a taste of it and our aim is to be in Europe again next time," said McClaren, knowing a place in the top six is likely to do just that.

"After Christmas will be the time to look at it and see where we can finish. We have got a very good team here. How well we do this season depends on how often we can get our best 11 out.

"I don't think it's been out consistently enough, yet we have done very well. Fringe players have done well and kept us high in the league."

McClaren will be unable once again to field his strongest team today with the return to fitness of George Boateng marred by a thigh injury picked up by Ray Parlour. James Morrison, after his superb goal against Partizan, and Nemeth are battling for the right midfield slot.

But the team McClaren does select will be prepared for a tough test against an Aston Villa side sitting just four points behind them in the table.

"There's no reason why Villa shouldn't finish top six again. They are a top six club. History proves that," said McClaren, whose team have lost just once in ten league games ahead of today's game. "Villa are a very good team and we need to win to put daylight between us and keep up with those above us."

McClaren also welcomes back Chris Riggott to the heart of the defence today, with Colin Cooper taking time out after picking up a black eye in the midweek UEFA Cup match

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