STEVE McClaren has heaped lavish praise on the Middlesbrough Academy as both Boro's reserve team and the youth side continue to push for honours this season.

Last night the reserves' 1-0 win at Manchester City put them top of their league, while on Thursday the youth side continued their superb run in the Youth Cup, a 1-0 win over Spurs booking them a place in the semi-finals.

The Boro boss sees both sides' success as testament to the hard work of Academy director Stuart Parnaby and his team at Rockcliffe Park.

"As long as that conveyor belt is there then the future of Middlesbrough is bright," said McClaren.

"The Reserves have been relatively young all season and are doing very very well - they're second in their league.

"And the youth team have done superbly in the Cup.

"It's fantastic for the club. We talk about bringing players through and having a good youth set-up being important for a club.

"To see young players coming through like David Murphy, Stewart Downing and Luke Wilkshire.

"To see people in the team like Robbie Stockdale and Stuart Parnaby and younger players coming through like Andrew Davies.

"To see those coming through to the first team, to see the reserves doing well, and to see them doing well in the youth cup is really a statement that Middlesbrough has a good Academy.

"Credit to Dave Parnaby and his staff for doing that. It doesn't matter who the manager is the youth set-up will always be there."

McClaren believes the Academy set-up is essential if Boro are to break into the top six of the Premiership, and he has shown he is not afraid to pin his faith in the talent at his disposal.

England youth internationals Parnaby and Murphy, Aussie Wilkshire, as well as homegrown players like Stockdale and Downing are all competing for first-team slots.

"The youngsters like Wilkshire and Downing are pushing the first-teamers and we are not afraid to play these kids," said McClaren.

"We've given about seven or eight debuts to our Academy kids."

The Boro boss believes the Academy can compete with the youth set-ups at Manchester United and Arsenal by offering the youngsters a route to first-team football at an early age.

He said: "Looking to the future, if you can produce your own it's a damn sight cheaper.

"That's what the like of Arsenal Manchester United and Newcastle have started to do. They can attract the top young players.

"You're competing with the likes of the Arsenals, Manchester Uniteds and Liverpools.

"What we try to say is here you have a fantastic set-up, a great Academy, and we will give kids an opportunity.

"That's the biggest thing. They will get the chance here and that's our selling point to the top-quality youngsters.

"We've had players at 17, 18 making their first-team debuts. Now that has got to be a great incentive to any kid, whereas maybe going to other clubs, can they see that?

"Maybe at 21 or 22, but that is a lot of years without playing.

"Dave Parnaby, Mark Proctor and Stephen Pears, the people behind the scenes, are doing a fantastic job in bringing these youngsters through."

* Boro striker Noel Whelan has joined Crystal Palace on loan for the remainder of the season.

The former Leeds and Coventry forward, signed by Bryan Robson for £2m, has struggled to break into the first team this season, and will join up with his former Boro teammate Curtis Fleming at Selhurst Park.

Mark Crossley has also left the Riverside temporarily, joining Divison One strugglers Stoke City for a second loan spell.

The 33-year-old has agreed a one-month deal with the Potters and goes straight into the squad to face Ipswich at Portman Road today.

Crossley, who made one appearance for Stoke during a short loan spell which expired in November, has been forced to play second fiddle to Australia international Mark Schwarzer at the Riverside Stadium.

* Middlesbrough gained three valuable points in their top-of-the-table Reserve showdown with Manchester City last night, writes Neil andrews.

The clash between two evenly-matched sides was settled by Tony Vidmar's headed goal on the stroke of half-time when he powered home a Luke Wilkshire corner, which enabled Boro to maintain their unbeaten away record.

Boro had other chances to score, particularly with long-range efforts from Doriva and Stewart Downing, while Nemeth and Joseph Desire-Job should have done better with shots from the edge of the box.

At the other end Brad Jones did well to keep out a Joe Barton effort with his legs and then he turned a well-struck shot from Matias Vuoso past the post.

In the dying minutes Boro could have secured a more comfortable victory, but Downing saw his free-kick tipped over the bar by Ellegaard.

Middlesbrough Reserves: Jones, Stockdale, Murphy, Doriva, Cooper, Vidmar, Wilkshire, Nemeth (Gullivers 80), Job (Cade 75), Wilson, Downing. Subs (not used): Turnbull gk, Dove, Smith.

Att: 703.

Ref: S Procter