MICHAEL RICKETTS has been assured he can force his way back into the England reckoning if he rediscovers the form that once earned him a 20-goals-a-season tag.

The Middlesbrough striker is ready to face former club Bolton today at the Reebok Stadium, where on the final day of last season he scored his only goal to date for Steve McClaren's side.

Ricketts struck in a 2-1 defeat when he appeared as a second-half substitute as Bolton celebrated Premiership survival.

Injuries have restricted Ricketts to just five starts - the last of which was in late April - since he joined Boro in a £2.5m January deal.

But manager McClaren, who was assistant to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson when Ricketts won his only senior cap against Holland in Amsterdam two seasons ago, is certain the 24-year-old frontman can re-emerge from the international shadows.

Ricketts hit 22 goals in all competitions in the first of his two full seasons with Bolton and bagged another 15 the following term before injuries began to take a toll.

An Achilles problem has interrupted his introduction to Boro, and a lack of match fitness means he may have to settle for a place on the bench again, even though Malcolm Christie is ruled out through illness. However, McClaren's belief in Ricketts' ability has never wavered. He said: "I don't think there are that many around who can reach 20 goals a season, but I think there are strikers here who can do that.

"I think Michael can follow the example of someone like James Beattie at Southampton.

"Michael has been unfortunate, but he has shown he is capable of scoring. He has played for England; he's got to that level and he can get there again. I always say that once you've been there, you can get back. Michael has physical presence, but he also has fantastic technical qualities as well as being a good finisher.

"We were unbeaten for six games after he arrived and he was part and parcel of our revival from January onwards.

"He's now had three or four weeks' training, and when he gets the opportunity, he has to take it. What Michael still needs are games and he has to stay injury-free.''

With only one point from four games, second-bottom Boro are - like Bolton two places above them - desperate to record their first win of the season.

And McClaren insists the deadline-beating loan signings of Gaizka Mendieta, Boudewijn Zenden and Danny Mills mean Boro now have their strongest squad since he took control a little over two years ago.

Dutch international Zenden is set to make his debut against Bolton and McClaren stressed: "It's the first time we've got all the players we want together, apart from the likes of Ugo Ehiogu and Massimo Maccarone, who are long-term injured.

"We have the kind of squad that will take us forward; I would say this is the best squad I've had since I've been here.

"I'm delighted with the quality we've brought in with Mendieta, Zenden and Mills - it was just disappointing we couldn't get them in earlier. They are players who can make the difference.

"I've been very impressed with Mendieta - he's been an instant hit with the fans and everyone here.

"The three signings we've made all have something to prove. The motivation for Danny Mills is obvious, having come here on loan from Leeds, but he also has an eye on England and next summer's European Championships in Portugal.

"The same goes for Zenden, who hasn't played regularly at Chelsea for 18 months. Mendieta didn't make the Spain squad this time, so he's looking to Portugal as well. They are all motivated to play well for themselves and us.''

Zenden, a black belt in judo, wants to be known as 'Bolo' rather than the almost unpronouncable Boudewijn. McClaren joked: "He's a judo champion, so no-one is going to argue.''

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