REGARDLESS of the flurry of transfer activity on Teesside during the summer, in one fleeting first half moment Craig Bellamy highlighted exactly what Middlesbrough still lack in their ranks.

As Chris Riggott failed to deal with a routine stray pass from Aaron Hughes, the ball rolled into the path of Bellamy. The Welshman's lightning pace got him away from his marker before rounding Mark Schwarzer and slotting the opening goal into an empty Boro net.

In Bellamy, Newcastle have a player with tremendous pace and an eye for goal. He gives the Magpies an escape route every time there is nothing available in midfield. A ball over the top or a defence-splitting pass, Bellamy is always an outlet when the pressure is on.

But it is that avenue what Boro, despite their effective summer in the transfer market, are still unable to use.

In Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Joseph Job, Boro tried on occasions to use the pass in behind the Newcastle backline but neither player possess the speed of Bellamy.

Job's attempts to earn an extra yard in his races with the Magpies defence led to him being caught offside on a number of occasions in the first half alone.

Boro boss Steve McClaren knew when he acquired Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka to his playing staff that he would not be adding frightening pace to his team's forward play - in fact both players offer similar styles on the pitch.

But if McClaren still does not have the pace in the Bellamy ilk, there are sure to be goals from his strikeforce, as it proved at the Riverside on Saturday - albeit with the hand of Hasselbaink.

The Dutchman may not have used conventional means to bring Middlesbrough level against Newcastle, but he had still worked his way free of his marker at the back post just three yards out. That fact alone is something that Boro lacked in abundance from Michael Ricketts et al last season.

After Newcastle's imposing first half on Teesside, it looked as if the home side's many new players needed time to bed in.

Sir Bobby Robson's middle-man recruit Nicky Butt bossed the midfield.

Sitting deep and playing things simple. Breaking play up and continually thwarting Boro's advances.

This was certainly a day for the former Manchester United star to get one over his old foe from Arsenal, Ray Parlour. Parlour just never got the sort of foothold in the game he would have liked and was unable to show the class that was clearly evident in pre-season.

The first appearances of right-backs Stephen Carr and Michael Reiziger for their new clubs were promising.

Carr's link-up with another summer recruit, James Milner, down the right flank showed plenty of positive signs. The defender's trademark marauding runs may not have been as frequent as they were at Tottenham but there were a few.

And if teenager Milner can improve his crossing from the wing then Robson will have unearthed a gem, as he caused Stuart Parnaby down Boro's left hand side problems.

Reiziger is now one of Boro's quickest players and he will be hoping to use that strength to make his own adventurous runs beyond Gaizka Mendieta down the right.

On Saturday he was largely restricted but his attacking-mind and defensive knowledge should lead to him being a fine free transfer signing.

But Newcastle will have to reserve judgement on Patrick Kluivert for now. Two minutes of action was not sufficient to act as a true indicator of the striker's talents.

The problem maybe, though, that the occasional two minutes in the future will not be sufficient to keep Kluivert happy, particularly if he has to keep playing second-fiddle to Messrs Bellamy and Shearer.