MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren hinted last night that Massimo Maccarone will be handed his first start of the season in the Carling Cup.

The Italian striker made his second consecutive substitute appearance during yesterday's goalless draw at Tottenham Hotspur after recovering from an ankle injury sustained during pre-season.

Maccarone, who finished as the club's top scorer with nine goals last season, is likely to be named in the starting line-up for the trip to First Division high-fliers Wigan on Wednesday night.

The £8.15m signing had been expected to start at Spurs and McClaren admitted the former Empoli man was close to getting the nod.

"Massimo was very close to playing," said the Boro manager, who instead stuck by Szilard Nemeth and Malcolm Christie.

"We just looked at the last two performances and we opted for continutity. But Massimo is certainly getting there.

"I think we have got a good squad here and I think we have to use the full squad to give players a chance and a break. Massimo is nearly there now, he had 30 minutes against Newcastle and he's ready now."

Boro failed to score for the fifth time in ten outings this season at White Hart Lane, but a point was secured by another clean sheet.

McClaren insists that his side, ignited by the creative thinking of Gaizka Mendieta, are determined to improve their forward-thinking approach as well as maintaining a solid backline.

"We like to play attacking football," said McClaren, whose side face a must-win home Premiership clash with Wolves on Saturday.

"Even last season we tried to do that by playing with the lone man behind the front two. Now we have the wingers and we are just trying to be more adventurous.

"We have conceded three in the last six games. That's the Boro we have built over the past few seasons and it's good to have the defence back like that."

McClaren also revealed the disappointment his players felt at not claiming a much-needed victory at managerless Tottenham.

"To come away from White Hart Lane with a draw, especially after they had gone four games without losing, is a great result," he said.

"We had two good performances against Newcastle and Chelsea before this game and came away with nothing.

"In the second half we wanted more belief from the players and that was epitomised by Mendieta.

"There's frustration in the dressing room but we know we can do better as well. If we keep performing like that, though, we know results will come."

Boro midfielder George Boateng refused to blame the club's strikers after they failed to find the net again.

And the Dutch international pointed the finger at his own poor finishing as the perfect example.

Boateng should have put Boro one goal up just before the half-time whistle but he failed to find the target.

He said last night: "In training the goals are flying in. We are just not getting that little bit of luck that can change things at the moment.

"It's not just the forwards to blame. I criticise myself for not scoring enough goals and I should have scored one here.

"I will not be sleeping tonight after I missed that chance.

"It's difficult to maybe get those first few goals but I think we will get them."

Tottenham caretaker boss David Pleat has been urged to take the role on a permanent basis after maintaining an unbeaten run following the sacking of Glenn Hoddle this month.

Former Valencia and Inter Milan coach Hector Cuper was the latest man to be linked with the vacant post yesterday.

But Pleat said: "I would have thought I will be in charge for the rest of this week and possibly the week after.

"As far as I know the situation has not changed."

* Danny Mills will be available for selection for the trip to Wigan. He was left behind for the trip to the capital after his wife gave birth to a baby boy, Stanley, on Saturday.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.