STEVE McCLAREN has called for Middlesbrough's wise men to lead by example and help complete UEFA Cup victory over Banik Ostrava tonight after having four of his five summer recruits ruled out through injury.

Neither Jimmy Floyd Hasslelbaink nor Mark Viduka will play at the Bazaly Stadium - the club's first ever European away night - after picking up hamstring and back problems respectively in the defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

That means the nine-goal star strikeforce have joined Michael Reiziger, Ray Parlour, Ugo Ehiogu and Chris Riggott back on Teesside as Middlesbrough look to build on the three-goal first leg lead.

Five of last season's FA Youth Cup winning squad - Matthew Bates, Tony McMahon, Anthony Peacock, Andrew Taylor and David Wheater - look like being named on the bench against Banik with the manager short of numbers.

McClaren has been boosted by the return to fitness of Szilard Nemeth (stomach upset), Gaizka Mendieta (calf) and Malcolm Christie, who is in the squad for the first time since breaking a leg in training last November.

In his reserve team games this season, the last of which was against Manchester United on Monday, Christie has scored three goals.

And McClaren, who insists he is prepared to play two up front despite the long injury list, believes the former Derby County forward is ready if called upon.

"Malcolm has been 11 months out but he's shown tremendous character to play again and he deserves his chance," said the Middlesbrough boss, who is likely to play Stewart Downing in a roaming role behind Nemeth in attack.

"Malcolm has scored goals for the reserves in five games since coming back to fitness and he could get his chance.

"He has improved in every game. We have no hesitation in playing him to do a job for us if he's needed.

"Playing with one striker invites pressure and hopefully we will have enough pace to get them on the counter attack.

"We have injuries to big players but we have players here who we believe can do a job.

"We will respect Banik but there's enough to get us through from this tie.

"We are relying on the experienced players to get us through. We wanted to bring a strong squad here but it's not as strong as I would have liked."

Middlesbrough know one goal this evening would leave Banik needing five goals to make progress to the next stage.

But since the memorable maiden European night at the Riverside two weeks ago, when Hasselbaink and Viduka shared the goals, McClaren's men have lost their last two games against Everton and Chelsea.

The Middlesbrough boss is confident Premiership displays do not affect European form.

He said: "It's been disappointing, but this is another tie and we are very proud to be in Europe for the first time.

"We want to make sure we can get into group phase.

"European games are very different and I have good experience of those from my days at Old Trafford. The first leg emphasised that point.

"We had to be patient and in the second half we got our just rewards from playing in that way. We have to make sure we come here and finish the job."

Banik coach Frantisek Komnacky, whose side are still reeling from losing to Bayer Leverkusen in a Champions League qualifier in August, claims he will not be urging his side to attack at will.

His side have not lost since the visit to Teesside and he said: "Our chance of winning is not so high. But if there's a little chance we will try to do our best to make it happen.

"Middlesbrough have injury problems but they have other players who can cause problems. We need to play a balanced match and to satisfy all of our fans."

Middlesbrough have just 900 official tickets for tonight's game but it is understood over 2,500 are on their way over to the Czech Republic's third largest city.

Ostrava: Raska; Pospech, Besta, Dvornik, Drozd; Latal, Bystron, Zubek, Cizek; Papadopolous, Matusovic.

Boro: Schwarzer; Parnaby, Southgate, Cooper, Queudrue; Mendieta, Boateng, Doriva, Zenden; Downing, Nemeth.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.