STEVE McCLAREN is anxiously waiting to hear the extent of young Middlesbrough full-back Stuart Parnaby's injury.

The Boro boss has received plenty of good news over the past ten days as he finally struck lucky in his summer shopping spree.

But now McClaren is keeping his fingers crossed that he will not lose the services of promising England defender Parnaby, who had scans on his injured knee yesterday.

The 21-year-old was stretchered off after 52 minutes during Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Leeds United, amid fears that he had damaged his cruciate ligament.

And now Parnaby and the club's coaching staff are waiting to hear the seriousness of the problem and the length of time the defender will be sidelined. McClaren is already resigned to being without the services of the Durham-born youngster for several weeks.

But if the scans reveal cruciate damage then Parnaby could face surgery and a much longer spell out of action. It would be another injury headache for McClaren who is already without Ugo Ehiogu, Massimo Maccarone and David Murphy for months.

And McClaren - who also has Carlos Marinelli, Chris Riggott, and Colin Cooper out through injury and Franck Queudrue still suspended - said: "The early tests are inconclusive, although there is no bone damage. We'll know better when we get the results of the scan."

Fortunately for the Boro chief, Leeds defender Danny Mills was drafted in on loan until the end of the current campaign.

And Mills, named in England's squad to face Macedonia on Saturday, was expected to be handed the responsibility of becoming the club's first-choice right-back.

The former Charlton man is one of six players to be added to the Boro squad, who have only claimed one point from their opening four Premiership fixtures.

As well as Mills, Chelsea's Boudewijn Zenden and Lazio's Gaizka Mendieta have both arrived on initial season-long loan deals.

And earlier this summer McClaren had added Brazilian midfielder Doriva, Manchester City goalkeeper Carlo Nash and ex-Aston Villa full-back Alan Wright to his ranks.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.