MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren has presided over a crisis summit with his strikers in an attempt to find a solution to their goal famine.

Boro have scored only three goals in their last five Premiership games - and two of them have come from centre-back Gareth Southgate.

Joseph Job, the last Boro frontman to score almost a month ago, is the only player apart from skipper Southgate to notch in that time.

Record £8.15m buy Massimo Maccarone, leading scorer with four this season, has failed to register in his last six appearances, while strike partner Szilard Nemeth has gone eight in all competitions without hitting the net.

Alen Boksic, in line for a recall in today's home game against Kevin Keegan's Manchester City, has yet to score this season.

And Noel Whelan, whose only goal this term came in the 4-1 Worthington Cup romp at Brentford, has pressed his claims to make his first senior start since the opening day of the season by bagging a brace in the reserves last week.

McClaren has been linked with a renewed move for Celtic's Welsh international striker John Hartson.

And the way his forwards shape up between now and the new year, when the transfer window reopens, will have a major bearing on whether the Boro boss moves back into the market in a bid to boost his firepower.

McClaren admitted: "We've tried to stress to the strikers this week that they are goalscorers, but they have to work on other facets of their game and once they do, the goals will follow. We're not panicking. We have every faith in all our strikers.

"There have been many different combinations this season and that has sometimes been injury-led when people aren't available.

"It has been difficult getting a settled pairing up front. We've been pleased with Massimo's contribution. He's shown his ability and that he can score goals. He's become a crowd favourite and has settled in well.

"But he's young and sometimes, to help people improve, you have to stick by them.

"This is another test for him and it's all about how he comes through it. It's been a lesson for him - and us as well.

"Szilard was very good when he scored for Slovakia against England a few weeks ago, but he has to work on things.

"We're doing everything possible for all our players so they perform every week and not just sporadically.

"Alen has a chance of starting this weekend. He came on last week at Chelsea and looked sharp and he's had a good week's training.

"The opportunity is there for all our strikers and Noel Whelan has been patient and did well in the reserves last week.

"We have four or five strikers, including Joseph, who are in contention for two or three places.

"I'm very happy with what I have. A few weeks ago we were scoring goals and playing well.

"But, like everyone, strikers have ups and downs and we're just in a spell at the moment where we're not scoring.

"We're always looking to improve and we're still out and about looking at players, not just for January but next summer as well.''

Boro face a City side anxious to bounce back from their surprise defeat by Charlton following the monumental derby triumph over Manchester United.

McClaren, former No 2 at Old Trafford, said: "The win they had against United was absolutely magnificent - they'll treasure that.

"We have to expect that they will play like that here. They have done things in style and played attractive, attacking football and I expect them to do well this season.

"I wasn't surprised that Kevin came back into management after leaving the England job.

"He proved himself as a manager at Newcastle. He showed there that he had the credentials to manage England.

"I have every admiration for Kevin, as a player and a manager, and the teams he develops.'