McClaren rebuffs Italian job offers for Massimo

Middlesbrough boss McClaren snapped Maccarone up for a club record £8.15m last summer when there were no takers on Empoli's asking price.

The Italian international has only found the net six times this season - scoring just once since September 28 - but the Boro chief has revealed he has no intentions of selling the player.

And McClaren, who is expected to name the former Under-21 international in his starting line-up at Leeds today, is confident Maccarone will become a success in the Premiership.

"He is (a part of the manager's plans). He has been fine," said McClaren, who knows both AC Milan and Juventus have been linked with the player.

"He has been disappointed that he has not scored more goals, but there is a still a big part of the season to go and he's hoping to play a big part in that.

"I think what he has shown in spells this season was what he can do and what an exceptional player he is.

"It's just a case that we knew his first year was always the hardest and he seems to have got over that spell he had. Now he wants to finish really well. He has had no problem with settling in or anything like that."

And McClaren reiterated his belief that the return of Juninho - who is understood to have shaken off an ankle injury - will bring the best out of Maccarone.

The 22-year-old should have scored in the 1-0 victory over Newcastle United ten days ago, but McClaren was pleased with his general contribution.

He said: "Massimo did well against Newcastle and linked well with Juninho.

"Massimo has responded as we thought he would do and Juninho coming back has given the whole team a lift. It's similar to (Benito) Carbone last season when he came in and gave us a spark and inspiration, Juninho is doing the same."

Maccarone lined up alongside Michael Ricketts against Newcastle, but Ricketts only returned to training yesterday after suffering with a virus all week and is doubtful for the trip to Leeds.

If McClaren decides the former Bolton striker is not fit enough to start up front, a return to action for Malcolm Christie, who scored on his debut at Sunderland on February 22, is likely.

And the Boro boss admitted his front-men all have to prove who is worthy of becoming the regular choices.

"It's up to someone to step forward and take the bull by the horns and show to us that that front two is it," he said. "Christie has come in and done well but then he was unfortunate when he picked up a virus, Ricketts is the same.

"We can't seem to get a settled pairing up there."

After suffering the humiliating 5-2 reverse at the Riverside against Aston Villa in late January, Boro are unbeaten in their last four matches.

And the Teessiders go into today's clash at Elland Road fresh from picking up four points from their last two away matches - having lost seven straight Premiership away games before the draw at Liverpool.

David Murphy and Colin Cooper are vying to deputise for Franck Queudrue, who is ruled out with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, young full-back Stuart Parnaby has signed a new contract that will keep him at the Riverside until 2007.

Parnaby has been the first choice right-back since starting against Leeds on October 26. Now McClaren has rewarded the England youth international for a string of consistent displays.

The Boro chief said: "He has shown a first class attitude in bouncing back from one or two injury set-backs and is very much part of my long-term plans.

Parnaby, who is a product of the club's Academy, was delighted to put pen to paper, and he said: "I'm absolutely thrilled. It means so much to me to know that I'm wanted this much. I've been here for nearly ten years now and I want to go on playing for the club.

* Allan Johnston is back at Boro after his spell at Sheffield Wednesday was cut short after suffering a broken toe in training.

* Midfielder Mark Wilson has joined goalkeeper Mark Crossley at Stoke City after signing on at the Britannia Stadium for a month.

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