JOSEPH JOB wants to be at Middlesbrough next season and is hoping to be reunited on Teesside with fellow countryman Geremi.

Job is out of contract in the summer and there are fears that he may move on for nothing - with tomorrow's opponents Birmingham leading the chase following the departure of Christophe Dugarry.

The laid-back striker has become Boro's first choice front-man since returning from a serious knee injury at the start of the year and he is due to sit down with manager Steve McClaren to discuss a deal.

Job, who struggled to make an impact after Bryan Robson paid £3m for him in August 2000, said: "We will talk very shortly. We have talked, we talked last month. But we haven't really spoken about a contract just yet. We will, though.

"When I first came here there were lots of tough times for some reason, but the most important thing is what's happening now.

"I enjoy my time here and with the rest of the team. I feel good here, so I don't know about the other clubs that are interested. All I am trying to focus on is Middlesbrough at this time."

Geremi's future at Chelsea is in doubt after a disappointing first year at Stamford Bridge since moving from Real Madrid last summer in a £7m deal.

The 25-year-old has been linked with a return to the Riverside, where he was a hailed as a success during a long loan which came to an end at the end of last season.

Boro refused to pay Real the transfer fee being demanded and the massive spending power of the Blues emerged and won the battle for his signature.

Job, who used to room with the midfielder for Cameroon, believes a return to the North-East for Geremi would be welcomed by the club's supporters.

"When Geremi was here last year he showed a lot of qualities," said Job, whose own Boro career was kick-started by the arrival of his close friend. "He had a great season and I think all of the Middlesbrough fans would be happy if he came back here."

Job is Boro's third top scorer having scored four since January despite a large chunk of the season being spent on the treatment table. Only Juninho (eight goals) and Szilard Nemeth (six) have scored more than the African.

It is Boro's failings in front of goal that have restricted their progress up the table but Job insists the forwards should not take all the flak.

"The way the manager plays makes it very difficult for strikers because we share a lot of time in games," said Job, who was withdrawn during last week's defeat at Charlton in favour of Nemeth and Massimo Maccarone.

"That's not really the case at any other clubs. I don't know if it's an excuse for no player scoring more than ten but maybe it's an explanation as to why that is the case.

"I am a centre forward. Every time I play I want to score goals. Every time I play, since I was a kid, I wanted to score goals. I don't see any reason why I can't get 15 goals a season when I get a full season. I want to prove to the manager that I can do that and do the business."

l Boro skipper Gareth Southgate has revealed he intends to sit down to discuss a new contract.

The England defender has been linked with moves to Manchetser United and Newcastle in the past year but he has remained part of McClaren's squad.

And Southgate, who cost Boro £6m in the summer of 2001, said: "I have got 14 months left on my contract and the noises are that they would like me to extend. There is so much going on at the club it has been hard to talk but I am looking forward to sitting down and seeing what they have to say."

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