MIDDLESBROUGH bad boy Franck Queudrue is facing a video trial and possible three-match ban after the FA yesterday confirmed they will study the incident which led to Kevin Phillips' sending-off at Southampton last Saturday.

In only his third game back after serving a five-match suspension carried over from last season, Queudrue appeared to tread on Phillips' calf, provoking the former Sunderland striker to kick out and receive a red card in the final minute of Boro's 1-0 victory.

The incident came just days after Queudrue insisted he was not a "dirty player'', even though he was the only one in the Premiership to be dismissed three times last season.

Orpington referee Barry Knight said in his match report that he was "concerned'' he had not noticed Queudrue's niggle at Phillips, and the FA's compliance office have now referred the matter to the video advisory panel.

FA spokesman Andrin Cooper said: "The referee is concerned that he did not see Queudrue's contact with Phillips, which provoked the reaction for which Phillips was sent off in the 90th minute. We will be submitting the incident to the video advisory panel.''

Queudrue had earlier admitted he had been sent off too often in his time with Boro and promised manager Steve McClaren he would endeavour to clean up his act.

The left-back has been shown the red card four times in all since he joined Boro in an initial loan move from Lens two years ago ahead of a £2.5m deal.

McClaren has blamed "over-exuberance'' for Queudrue's disciplinary problems, but the Boro boss must be privately alarmed by the prospect of losing the Frenchman's services once again.

Boro have won all three games since Queudrue's return, without conceding a goal, and stand-in skipper Colin Cooper believes the run is evidence of renewed resilience and resolve in the ranks.

McClaren's side collected only one point from their first five Premiership matches this term.

And Cooper, who took the captain's armband at St. Mary's in the absence of the injured Gareth Southgate, said: "If there's one thing that has come out of the last three games, it is that everyone has been prepared to roll up their sleeves and have a go.

"Our first win over Everton here was massive for us. People in certain quarters were looking for us to slip up.

"We lost Gareth in the Carling Cup game against Brighton and everyone wondered what was going to happen at Southampton.

"But we got a great result there and the season has been turned around with those three wins in six days.''

Boro's record £8.15m signing Massimo Maccarone is begging McClaren to name him among his substitutes for Sunday's clash with Chelsea at the Riverside.

The Italian striker scored within five minutes of his comeback in the Reserves against Sunderland on Wednesday.

Maccarone had not played since damaging ankle ligaments in a pre-season game at Hull, but managed an hour in the second-string encounter at Durham City.

The Chelsea game may come too soon for Maccarone, but McClaren said: "Massimo is our top scorer - there's no doubt about that - and we've missed him.''

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