RAY Parlour will not allow his heart to rule his head when he makes his Middlesbrough debut amidst the hurly-burly of Saturday's derby clash with Newcastle.

The midfielder, who completed a free transfer from Arsenal this summer, could not have asked for a more explosive start to life at the Riverside.

Boro have won just one of their eight Premiership home games against the Magpies but, after seeing four more internationals join Parlour on Teesside this summer, the club's fans are demanding instant results against their biggest rivals.

The ten-time England international is expecting a baptism of fire in four days' time but, after playing in countless London derbies during his 13 years at Highbury, is confident he can handle whatever is thrown at him.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Parlour, who was a part of the Arsenal team that enjoyed a 3-2 home win over Newcastle last season. "I couldn't have picked a better start for myself.

"The games between Arsenal and Tottenham are fairly frantic affairs and I'm pretty sure that's what's in store for me.

"I don't know how big the rivalry is up here because I've not played here before, but I've been told it's a big game.

"They are all big games though. You can't change your routine and you've got to stay disciplined.

"Just because it's a derby you can't go out there kicking lumps out of each other. You've got to stay disciplined and play your game.

"You can't let everything else that's going on affect you. That's what we did at Arsenal when we played big games, and we played derbies every week in London."

Parlour will not have to wait long for his return to the capital as Middlesbrough visit Highbury for their first away game of the season on August 22.

The flame-haired midfielder is assured of a warm welcome at his former home after helping the Gunners to three league championships, four FA Cups and the European Cup Winners Cup during his time at the club.

"It'll be very special because I had some great years at Arsenal," said Parlour.

"But things move on and there's always a time when you have to finish at one club.

"I've been very lucky to stay with a great club for a long time. I'm not getting any younger, but it's a new challenge for me here and I can see the team going forward with the players that the manager's brought in from last year.

"The expectations are high and we know what we have to do to succeed."

Meanwhile, Jonathan Greening has slammed Boro boss Steve McClaren for failing to give him a fair crack of the whip at the Riverside.

Greening, who made a £1.25m move to West Brom this summer, was voted Boro's player of the year in the 2002-03 season.

But, when McClaren signed both Bolo Zenden and Gaizka Mendieta the following summer, the former England Under-21 international found himself quickly shuffled to the sidelines.

"At Middlesbrough everything was brilliant for two or three seasons and I played almost every game," said Greening, who made 109 appearances for the Teessiders. "Then Mendieta and Zenden arrived and they were in ahead of me.

"I had been player of the season but they still bought two midfield players and put them ahead of me without them doing anything. That was a blow.

"But it's part of the game. Now I want another full season and hopefully that will be the case here."

* Former Middlesbrough striker Hamilton Ricard has been banned from football for a year after attacking a referee during a game in Ecuador.

Ricard was punished for offences including pushing the referee and making obscene gestures to the crowd during his club Emelec's 0-0 draw with Olmedo de Riobamba.

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