GARETH SOUTHGATE wants to lead ambitious Middlesbrough to further glory after seeing a clutch of star names arrive through the Riverside doors this summer.

This time last year Southgate was considering his future as Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle were all considering moves for the consistent defender.

But, 12 months on, the 33-year-old is ready to pledge his future to Boro and extend his contract beyond the year he has remaining on his existing deal.

Winger Bolo Zenden is due to complete a permanent move to Teesside within the next 24 hours and he will follow strikers Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka, midfielder Ray Parlour and Dutch full-back Michael Reiziger to Boro.

And, with the opportunity to play in the UEFA Cup this season after February's Carling Cup success, Southgate admits he is relishing the prospect of captaining Steve McClaren's side in their maiden European adventure.

There is even the possibility the former Aston Villa man will make Boro his last club before retiring. "I feel a lot happier about things than I did at this stage last year, that's for sure," said Southgate, who was McClaren's first signing for £6.5m three years ago.

"Things are heading towards what I hoped would happen when I came here. This is definitely the strongest squad we've had. It's taken a bit of building and now we really have to take a significant step forward. We have to try to establish ourselves as a top-six club and we have a great opportunity to do that.

"If we're in that group of clubs, we can achieve things. We've managed to strengthen at a time when a lot of clubs haven't been able to. We've brought in a lot of experience.

"What's pleased me is that people have come in who have a point to prove. They are happy to be playing again and the work ethic is terrific. There's a real buzz about the place."

Southgate was again at the heart of the defence in Boro's 4-1 win at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night - a game in which Hasselbaink grabbed his first goals for the club. The Dutch striker, a free signing from Chelsea, forms a mouth-watering strike partnership with Mark Viduka and the skipper expects the pair to hit it off in their first season together at Boro.

"It was great for Jimmy to get off the mark, like Mark Viduka did at Rotherham last week," said Southgate. "It's going to be vital that the partnership gels, but it should with all their experience and their scoring records in the Premiership."

Hasselbaink, meanwhile, is convinced the new-look strikeforce will benefit even more when Boro complete the capture of Zenden. Zenden, due to move permanently on a free transfer after last season's successful loan stint, has been team-mates with Hasselbaink at both club, Chelsea, and international level.

Hasselbaink said: "I have known Bolo for a long time and he is the type of winger all players like to have in the team."

* Tickets are on sale for the friendly match against Real Mallorca, priced £10 adults £5 under-16s and over-65s, from the Riverside Stadium ticket office and from MFC Retail in Captain Cook Square.

Tickets are also on sale for the international friendly between England U-21 and Ukraine U-21 at Riverside Stadium on Tuesday, August 17 (8pm), priced £10 adults and £5 under-16s and over-65s. Ticket hotline number is 01642-877 745 and websales on www.mfc.co.uk

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