MARK Schwarzer has warned Middlesbrough fans not to believe everything they read in the papers ahead of this afternoon's home game with Birmingham - especially when it comes to Mark Viduka.

Viduka might have made just two appearances since his summer move to Teesside, but a debut goal against Fulham and another committed display against Crystal Palace have already seen him win over the Riverside support.

Quite a contrast from the end of his Leeds United career when he was roundly criticised for his alleged indifference as the Yorkshire outfit slipped out of the Premiership.

The Australian international was regularly portrayed as a moody mercenary, more interested in personal gain than the problems of a club in crisis.

Boro fans could have been forgiven for needing a sharp intake of breath when Viduka was unveiled this summer - especially when he was accompanied by another supposed trouble-maker in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

But, rather than splitting the dressing room, the duo have helped to foster a winning mentality that has seen Boro leap into the top five after the first four games of the season.

Schwarzer knows Viduka better than most after making a host of international appearances alongside him for Australia and, rather than noticing a change in the striker's attitude this season, the Boro keeper feels the real Mark Viduka is simply coming to the fore.

"I think Mark's very misunderstood," said Schwarzer. "People have portrayed him in a certain way and he's definitely not like the person he's supposed to be in certain sections of the media.

"He's a great guy. He's been accused of not trying in the past, or of not wanting to put a leg in for a challenge, but that's totally out of order.

"You can ask any player at the club - they all speak very highly of him. Everyone reads the papers so, when he first arrived, people were pleasantly surprised by how great a guy he is.

"Mark was unfairly treated at Leeds and I think a lot of the publicity that was surrounding him was very unfair.

"They used him as a bit of a scapegoat and used his financial gains as one of their reasons for the club getting into the position they were in.

"I think that's totally unfair - you couldn't blame one individual for what was going on at Leeds. He's just a player and he was one of the best players that Leeds United had."

Viduka's partnership with Hasselbaink is still in its formative stages, but the duo are already showing signs of an understanding that could stand Boro in good stead over the course of the campaign.

Hasselbaink's set-piece winner against Crystal Palace made it three goals in four games and, with Viduka also up and running in the goalscoring stakes, Schwarzer expects the pair to continue their hot streak against Birmingham this afternoon.

"Signing players like that just shows how far Middlesbrough have come," he said. "And they're capable of scoring in every game they play.

"I've played against them enough to know what they're capable of. We've let in more goals than we would have liked to so far this season, but the difference is that we've been scoring goals at the other end."

Birmingham have their own new strike duo in Emile Heskey and Dwight Yorke, and Steve Bruce's side have had no problems finding the back of the Boro net in recent times.

Schwarzer has conceded three goals in each of his last three games against the Blues and, with Mikael Forssell having signed another year-long loan from Chelsea, the Boro keeper expects to see plenty of action again this afternoon.

"They can score goals," he said. "They've proved that in the last couple of seasons.

"They've acquired some good players in the last couple of months in Yorke and Heskey, and they've been able to keep Forssell for another year.

"They've got a formidable frontline, but hopefully we can get back to defending well and keep them out."

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