MIDDLESBROUGH'S Ugo Ehiogu last night admitted he will be putting club before country despite receiving an 11th hour England call-up.

The 30-year-old centre-back will meet up with the rest of the 26-man squad today following Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand's withdrawal through injury.

Ehiogu was pleased to be handed the chance to meet up with the party again, but revealed his frustration that he was not named in manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad originally.

But the former Aston Villa man revealed Boro boss Steve McClaren, who quit from his role as Eriksson's assistant recently, has told the player to keep performing at club level.

"I was disappointed not to be in," said Ehiogu, who didn't play in either of England's European Championship qualifiers despite being in the squad last month.

"But the bottom line is that I have to keep performing for Middlesbrough - that's the most important thing for me now.

"The manager said you never know what is round the corner and that I should just keep plugging away. And as it happens I have been called up - I don't know if I'm a replacement for Rio - but I have been called up."

Ehiogu's inclusion means three Boro players will now meet up with England for their training get-together.

He is joined in the ranks by regular squad member Gareth Southgate and new-boy Jonathan Greening.

And Ehiogu admitted he is delighted to see Greening receive his reward for a string of fine performances in the Premiership. He said: "I am pleased for Jonno because he has been progressively improving with each game. And it's nice to see a teammate get the international recognition he deserves. He's worked hard for that."

While Boro are solid at the back, Ehiogu is backing Boro's misfiring strikers to get back on the goals trail.

Boro were unable to find the net on their travels for the fifth time this season at Chelsea on Saturday - as the Blues recorded a 1-0 win.

Record signing Massimo Maccarone has not scored since the win at Tottenham in September, while partner Szilard Nemeth's last goal was against Everton in the same month.

And Ehiogu is aware that the front two, whose places are under threat from Alen Boksic and Noel Whelan, need to produce the goods, but he believes they will soon do just that.

"We need to work harder up front," said Ehiogu. "We played well at Chelsea but we have come away with nothing.

"Our shots to goals ratio needs to improve. The fact is that we have only scored four goals away from home. We are aiming to get better in the final third. Goals do generate confidence and Mass has gone a couple of games without scoring, so he just needs a tap in or something.

"He needs one to get him rolling again but he has been trying hard up there."