STEVE McCLAREN last night credited Gaizka Mendieta with helping to spark Juninho back to his best at Middlesbrough.

Manager McClaren expects the Brazilian to return for today's home game against Portsmouth after he was forced to miss the Carling Cup shoot-out victory over Everton with a hamstring niggle.

Juninho was the one to suffer for Boro's dismal start to the season when they picked up only one point from their first five games.

But since his recall, he has forged an understanding with Spanish star Mendieta, who arrived from Lazio in August.

"I think he's helped to bring the best out of Juninho; I think good players rub off on each other,'' said McClaren.

"I remember when I was at Derby with Jim Smith and we brought in the Croatians Igor Stimac and Aljosa Asanovic, and they were players on a different level.

"It upped our level and players get excited by that. When we signed Juninho last year and Mendieta this season, it lifted the rest of the players here.''

Mendieta, who has joined Boro on a season's loan ahead of a four-year deal, scored the winning penalty against Everton in Wednesday's Riverside shoot-out.

McClaren added: "I knew it was a terrific deal when we signed Mendieta and I couldn't believe that we'd got him.

"You don't know how quickly they are going to settle and get used to the football and the coaching.

"But that fact that he's settled and become a favourite with the fans and everyone here so quickly, has been an added bonus.

"He's been playing on the right, but he's capable of coming inside and being the creative one in midfield, and against Manchester City I think he ended up playing centre-forward!

"He can play anywhere and he made quite an impact on Wednesday when he went into the middle. He's a model pro both on and off the pitch and a team player.

"Maybe he wasn't enjoying his football at Barcelona and Lazio, but he's certainly enjoying it here.''

McClaren hopes to have Juninho back in tandem with Mendieta as his side chase a record-equalling run of six clean sheets in the top flight.

But Juninho's compatriot Doriva, who also missed the Everton tie after sustaining head and ankle injuries, is doubtful.

McClaren said: "They both want to play but we'll wait and see. Doriva is only 50-50, but we expect Juninho to be fit.''

The Boro boss meets up with old friends in the shape of Jim Smith, right-hand man to Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp, and striker Teddy Sheringham who enjoyed European Cup glory with Manchester United when McClaren was assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson.

McClaren, formerly No 2 to veteran Smith at Derby, said: "It'll be a tough game because Portsmouth are a good footballing side, as all of Harry's team are. It'll be good to see Jim again. I know him well and you can't afford to lose people with his experience and knowledge.

"I spoke to him in the summer and he's really enjoying his role there. People like Jim are invaluable to football.

"I also know Teddy well. He's a very intelligent player and I think he's a terrific signing by Portsmouth.

"He might be getting on, but like Colin Cooper here, he's got better as he's grown older.

"It's a very important game and a chance for us to go forward. We're tenth, only four points off fourth place, but only five off the bottom three - it's a tight league.''

For all their solidity at the back, no Boro player has scored in open play in 360 minutes. Bolo Zenden was the last to do so in the 2-0 victory at Aston Villa four weeks ago, when Michael Ricketts struck the second goal with a penalty. A Sun Jihai own goal gave Boro their 1-0 win at Manchester City last weekend.

More alarming for McClaren is the fact that no Boro striker has scored in open play in 535 minutes since Massimo Maccarone in the Carling Cup win at Wigan on October 29.

McClaren admitted: "We were weak last year in midfield and didn't have enough cover. We've got that now, we're strong at the back and we've got enough strikers to cover as well.

"But of course it's a concern that we're not scoring. That's the problem we have and we're trying to rectify it.

"January is an opportunity to strengthen. People can see we're still one or two pieces short of the jigsaw, and if we get them, they can see the potential of this team.''

A cryptic McClaren left open the possibility that Boro could join the scramble for Brazilian superstar Rivaldo following his release by AC Milan.

He said: "We get linked with everybody. We're not thinking about it (a move for Rivaldo) - this week!''

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has confirmed his interest in Rivaldo and Wolves counterpart Dave Jones yesterday admitted that they had enquired. But Jones said: "The answer was pretty much what we expected. Rivaldo feels he has bigger fish to fry.''

Read more about Middlesbrough here.