STEVE McCLAREN is relishing the prospect of sending fit-again captain Gareth Southgate into derby battle with Alan Shearer on Saturday.

Southgate, 33, is poised to make his return to first-team action against Newcastle United after missing two games with a hamstring injury.

Middlesbrough manager McClaren said: "It's good to have Gareth back. As long as he gets no reaction, he'll come into contention for the Newcastle game."

McClaren has slammed the FA for charging Franck Queudrue with violent behaviour following the Frenchman's clash with Kevin Phillips at St Mary's last month.

Queudrue is facing the possibility of a three-match ban after he appeared to tread on Phillips immediately before the Southampton striker kicked him.

But McClaren blasted: "There's absolutely no case to answer. Franck emphatically denies that there was any intent and we'll be supporting him 100 per cent.

"We're very disappointed that such a charge has been made and intend to vigorously defend Frank.

"We'll ask the FA for a personal hearing and will wait to hear for a date."

Meanwhile, Danny Mills has marked England's qualification for the Euro 2004 finals by vowing to recapture his international place.

Mills, 26, has not played in any of England's last three competitive games since he was substituted during the first half of their win over Slovakia at the Riverside in June.

Gary Neville, who missed last year's World Cup through injury and was replaced at right-back by Mills, has taken a vice-like grip of the England No 2 shirt.

But Mills is determined to add to his tally of 18 caps by playing his way above Manchester United man Neville in the international pecking order.

He said: "I was in this position a couple of years ago when I was on the fringes of the team and I ended up playing in all of England's games in the World Cup.

"I just have to keep working hard, keep playing well and doing well for Middlesbrough, and hopefully that will be enough to get me back in the frame."

Alan Wright is set to start training again following his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.