MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has issued a stark warning to his players to stop believing their own publicity and start performing with consistency.

McClaren classed Boro's 1-0 defeat at struggling West Brom on Saturday as his side's worst display of the season.

Boro have now lost their last five away games in all competitions and six out of eight on the road in the Premiership this term.

McClaren desperately needs a cure for the travelsickness if Boro are to sustain any sort of challenge at the top end of the table.

The Riverside Stadium has been an impregnable citadel where Boro have yet to lose and have dropped only four points out of a possible 24.

But their away-day woes are clearly a worry to McClaren.

Boro have failed to score on their last four top-flight trips and the personal goal famine being suffered by record £8.15m signing Massimo Maccarone - which now extends to eight games - and patchy form of Alen Boksic, are a growing cause for concern.

Boksic, whose future has been the subject of much speculation, is out of contract at the end of the season and widely expected to move on.

But McClaren insisted: "Any player, whether he is out of contract or not, has to improve. It isn't just a case of looking at Alen.

"We always say to players that they have to improve their game, season after season.

"The players didn't perform on Saturday and certain individuals were very poor.

"People have been talking about Europe, but that result showed we are a long way off.''

With the transfer window reopening in the new year, McClaren admitted: "Every manager would love to strengthen his side.

"But it all depends on availability, the quality of players available, and how much money you have.

"If someone becomes available and it smacks me between the eyes, I would have to speak to my chairman, Steve Gibson, to see what could be done.

"But I'm still very pleased with the squad we have. We've brought in calibre players like Juninho, George Boateng, Gareth Southgate, Jonathan Greening, Geremi and Maccarone. We're building a club that is attractive to people.''

McClaren continues to be linked with Bayern Munich's England midfielder Owen Hargreaves and Boro are also understood to be among the clutch of clubs, including Newcastle and Sunderland, monitoring Sheffield United's England Under-20 midfielder Michael Tonge.

* Former Boro midfielder Robbie Mustoe has signed a new deal with Charlton until the end of the season.

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