MIDDLESBROUGH'S youngsters have been told to take a leaf out of the Ugo Ehiogu book on 'attitude to injury' in their bid to become stars of the future.

Ehiogu has not played since damaging the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the final home game of last season against Tottenham on May 3.

But Ehiogu has battled back and is on course for a return to action before Christmas.

Manager Steve McClaren has been delighted with the defender's attitude since learning that the player only needed rest and rehabilitation after an exploratory operation at specialist Dr James Andrews' clinic.

Boro also have young full-backs David Murphy and Stuart Parnaby due to return from months on the sidelines with a knee and foot injuries respectively, but McClaren insists no player has reacted more positively to a serious injury than Ehiogu.

"Ugo has been out for seven months and he has only recently returned to full training," said McClaren, whose own career as a professional footballer was cut short by injury.

"I know that during those seven months out, it can be the most lonely place. You need a tremendous amount of self-motivation and sacrifice to come though and get to the standard he has go to.

"Grant Downie (physio) has said to me that he has never seen anybody work as hard as Ugo has to get back to training and to eventually play.

"Grant says he has shown amazing dedication and he has been a great example to younger players. Just to see him still training in the gymnasium at 4.30pm just to try to get back is fantastic."

McClaren has also praised England Under-21 international Andrew Davies for the way he helped Boro adapt to life without Danny Mills.

Mills missed Saturday's match with Liverpool through suspension and, with Parnaby ruled out, centre-back Davies was handed the right-back role.

And Davies, who has previously played up front for the Boro youth team, showed his versatility by comfortably coping with the threat of Australian wide-man Harry Kewell at the Riverside.

And McClaren said: "The whole back five have been fantastic and we have now kept four clean sheets in a row.

"When I knew Danny Mills was going to be suspended he was always going to be a big miss for us because he has been fantastic and he became a fans' favourite. He gave us a certain steel as soon as he came in.

"But I thought Andrew Davies came in and was magnificent against Liverpool because he was up against Kewell and did well."

Meanwhile, Boro striker Michael Ricketts is determined to become a big hit with the Riverside faithful.

The 24-year-old struggled to make an impact in the goalless draw with the Reds and has only found the net twice since his £3.5m switch from Bolton.

He said: "It's all about form. Wherever I have been I have scored goals and I'm very keen to prove myself here."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.