ALEN BOKSIC has been told he is playing for his future at Middlesbrough.

The Croatian's contract runs out at the end of the season and Hadjuk Split are interested in taking the striker back to his homeland.

Boksic, who is hoping to start against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge today, has not found the net this season and has had to settle for a place on the bench for much of the campaign.

Boro boss Steve McClaren admits that the experienced front-man has to convince him he is worth offering a new deal.

"A lot depends on how he does this year," said McClaren. "We are only 13 games in so it's too early for contract talks.

"But getting another contract has never been dismissed. He has got until the end of the season when his contract runs out.

"I'm sure at the appropriate time, when we are discussing next season, Alen's contract is one that will come up."

Should McClaren decide the forward deserves a new deal, it may not be what the player wants anyway.

Boksic has admitted he could end his playing days and he will not make up his mind on what route to take until May.

"I will decide what to do at the end of the season, whether to play for another year, or two, or retire," said the 32-year-old. "I have no idea yet. I am just enjoying my football and enjoying my career."

Boksic grabbed a late equaliser at Chelsea last season, when the match ended 2-2 and McClaren believes it is about time the forward got off the mark this time around.

The Boro chief also revealed he is considering starting with Boksic today, and he hopes the former Lazio star can help his side claim the points against third-placed Chelsea.

"It's like all strikers when they have not scored for a couple of weeks they start to think the wheels have fallen off," he said.

"But Alen came on and did a good job against Liverpool last week and it just shows the competition for places we have got now.

"Noel Whelan also grabbed two goals in midweek so it's good to have players pushing each other because it gets the best out of them."

McClaren also singled out England new-boy Jonathan Greening for praise.

The Riverside chief admitted that when he was Sven-Goran Eriksson's right-hand man, the Swede had indicated he was considering calling up the 23-year-old.

But McClaren believes Greening can only fulfil his true potential when he finds his goalscoring boots more often.

"He is progressing very well, his all round game has come on well and all he needs to do now is score more goals," said McClaren.

"Midfield players need to score goals and I would put him down as an attacking midfield player and he needs to score goals.

"That's part of his job. I think anywhere around eight goals and he is doing well."

Greening meets up with the rest of the 26-man England squad next week and McClaren added: "He has been at Manchester United a good few years so he knows what it's all about.

"He has played in big games and he has trained with big players week in and week out, so he knows what it's about.

"When he joins up with the England squad he should take strength from that and have every confidence when he's there."

Victory over Chelsea tomorrow could see Boro climb back up to third place.

And if the Teessiders' are in that position come the end of the season, McClaren admits it would be a shock.

"I would be surprised if we were there in May. If we don't we don't," he said. "I just look at the team and look at how they are taking things on board.

"If we win on Saturday then we are there on merit and you are where you deserve to be.

"But it's over 38 games, not over 13 and that's when we will have to look at where we are."

McClaren welcomes back full-back Franck Queudrue today, but he still has Robbie Stockdale out with a heel injury.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.