Steve McClaren's preparations for Middlesbrough's first away trip in the UEFA Cup are far from ideal after being hit by a striker crisis.

Both Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka are serious doubts for Boro's second leg with Banik Ostrava on Thursday night after picking up hamstring and back injuries respectively.

Middlesbrough travel to the Czech Republic tomorrow morning and boss McClaren is having to put plans in place in case both fail to come through training today.

As well as possibly having the nine-goal strikeforce unavailable, Cameroon front-man Joseph Job is also struggling to be fit after hobbling off against Chelsea with hamstring trouble.

The only good news for McClaren is that Szilard Nemeth has overcome the stomach upset, which ruled him out of the visit of Chelsea, and he is set to board the plane to a country that neighbours his Slovakian homeland.

Nemeth looks destined to start up front at the Bazaly Stadium but it is who will partner him that is causing the concern.

If none of the injured trio pull through, McClaren could opt to play young attacking midfielders Stewart Downing or James Morrison as an out an out striker.

And another option would be to hand Malcolm Christie his first start in nearly a year after coming through four reserve games unscathed.

Christie broke his leg in training last November and has battled his way back to fitness but has not even been named on the bench so far this season.

Boro are already without Ugo Ehiogu (calf) and there is a doubt over Ray Parlour (gashed knee). Gaizka Mendieta trained yesterday and is likely to play his part against Banik.

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer wants Boro to use their UEFA Cup bid as a tool to dethrone Newcastle United as the North-East's number one club.

Newcastle jet off to Israel today for the return leg ahead of Thursday's first round tie with Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin with the aim to improve on a semi-final finish in the competition last time around.

But, unlike the previous campaign, the Magpies are joined in Europe by their North-East rivals, who are hoping to complete progress into the group stage.

Despite lifting the Carling Cup in February, ending Boro's 128-year wait for a trophy, the Teessiders are still regarded as the region's second best club - even though Newcastle have not got their hands on silverware in 35 years.

And Schwarzer, attracting the attention of Manchester United, would love to help Steve McClaren's men take over the Magpies in the reputation stakes.

"We've always lived in the shadows of Newcastle and rightly so. They are a massive club and, historically, they have had success," said Schwarzer, out of contract in the summer.

"They've tended to have the better results and finished higher in the table, so it's only natural that they've been classed as the biggest club in the North-East.

"That's hard for the supporters because they have to deal with that day in, day out - but it's hard for the players as well. We feel we've gained a lot of ground on them, but we need to make sure we prove ourselves by getting results in the league and the UEFA Cup.

"The supporters have been dying for the chance to see Middlesbrough in European competition. This is where we think we deserve to be, but the table never lies.

"As a team, we've had to produce the performances on the pitch to warrant getting into a competition like this. Now that we're in the UEFA Cup we have to make sure we make it count."

It would verge on being a catastrophe for Boro if they did not finish the job in Ostrava, having built up such a handsome lead at the Riverside 12 days ago.

Since that historic night, McClaren's side have lost both their Premiership fixtures 1-0 - at Everton and then at home to Chelsea on Saturday - and have been hit with the striker problem.

Whoever does play, though, Schwarzer believes the occasion will be one every player wants to be involved in as Boro look to reach the group stage.

"This is what it's all about. As a footballer you want to play at the highest level and the UEFA Cup is the next step after the Premiership," said Schwazrer.

"After that you've got the Champions League, but it's one step at a time. We've got to take advantage of the experience we're going to get from these games and make sure that we don't make an early exit."

* Middlesbrough's defence of the Carling Cup trophy against Coventry City has been confirmed for October 27 .

* Charlton maintained their unbeaten home record with a 1-0 win over Blackburn in last night's Barclays Premiership clash at The Valley.

Talal El Karkouri's headed goal, his first for the Addicks, from a 49th-minute corner proved enough to see off the challenge of a spirited Rovers side.

The outcome could have been so different had Garry Flitcroft's early strike not hit the post, with the visitors also having a strong penalty claim turned down during the second half.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.