STEVE McClaren hopes to have attacking midfielder Joseph-Desire Job back in action for Middlesbrough as soon as possible.

The lively Cameroon star was involved in a horrific clash with West Brom defender Darren Moore in the last ten minutes of the match on Saturday.

Both players were taken from The Hawthorns in an ambulance shortly after the game, and Job had to stay overnight in hospital to undergo scans.

And McClaren praised Job, who was one of Boro's best performers on a disappointing day in the West Midlands.

"I've spoken to Job and he has gone for all of the usual tests," said the Boro boss . "It looks as if he's going to be OK.

"I thought he was one of our best performers on a disappointing day."

Job is have further tests with a neurosurgeon today.

Job travelled back to Teesside yesterday. He underwent a scan before returning back by road with physio Bob Ward.

McClaren would not allow his players to talk after the game and admitted he thought it was his side's poorest display so far in a campaign that has seen them push up the Premiership table.

But the Boro chief is determined to use the 1-0 defeat as a reality-check in a bid to help his side become a major force in the top-flight. And a realistic McClaren revealed that he now believes his side are not as good as many people believe.

"I think that was the worst performance of the season," he said.

"But you are always going to have one of them, a blip, at one point.

"We didn't perform. Too many players have underachieved and we're looking for consistency and that's what we are still searching for.

"Expectations are now high. We've gone from relegation candidates to Champions' League hopefuls in a matter of months.

"I think the performance at West Brom proves that we are not as far along the road as people think we are."

McClaren stood by his decision to play with an adventurous attacking formation away from the Riverside.

He said: "We just felt we could win this game. We have played well with this system away from home and scored goals with it. Unfortunately we just didn't get going at West Brom.''