'Testing times are still to come,' admits Southgate

Steve McClaren's side have taken the top flight by storm this season and held on to third place with Saturday's 2-0 home win over Bolton.

But Southgate maintains that games against the likes of Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea (twice) Arsenal and Manchester United before the end of the calendar year, are sure to determine whether Boro's stunning start is "just a flash in the pan'' - or the real thing.

Southgate said: "I don't think we know yet how good we can be. We've surprised ourselves a bit with the start we've had.

"I think the football we're playing is very exciting and our confidence is very high.

"The manager has a clear vision of what he wants and is hungry to succeed.

"We've only conceded five goals in nine League games and that's something we're proud of. The team is defending well as a whole.

"I guess only time will tell whether the start we've had is just a flash in the pan.

"We want to make the next step now. At the moment we're third in the League and that's great.

"But we have lots of tough games in November and December and that will tell us exactly where we stand.

"I think everybody on Teesside will be enjoying what's happening at the moment.

"But we mustn't let standards drop. One thing I've learned over the years is that teams can be in this position at this stage of the season, but it counts for nothing.''

Southgate, who has linked up with England for the Euro 2004 qualifying double-header against Slovakia and Macedonia, added: "The good housekeeping of last year has meant we were able to invest in the summer, and the new players have settled in very well.

"The low point of last season was after we'd lost the first four games, scored one goal and conceded 11.

"Everybody was saying we were favourites for relegation, but the manager had terrific faith at that time.

"It was a difficult job for him because a lot of people who had been here a long time had to go.

"That's always tough because there were some great servants at the club who moved on.

"But it was necessary to bring the average age of the squad down and bring the numbers down. We now have a team that looks full of running.''

Southgate is joined in the England squad by central defensive partner Ugo Ehiogu.

Sven-Goran Eriksson overlooked Ehiogu for the World Cup, but the Boro defender said: "I lived in hope of being called up again and I'm absolutely delighted.

"It's all down to enjoying your football and I haven't enjoyed playing as much as this for the past six years.''

* Leeds United's ticket allocation for their visit to the Riverside a fortnight on Saturday has been cut.

Middlesbrough Council's Safety Advisory Group imposed the reduction following unruly behaviour by Leeds fans on Teesside in February.

Leeds have this time received 2,108 tickets, down from 3,000 last season.

A spokesman for the Safety Advisory Group said: "We have written to Leeds to explain the reasons for the reduction.

"At last season's game, between 50 and 60 per cent of their supporters stood for the entire match in contravention of stadium rules, despite numerous requests to sit down.

"There were also major problems in the concourse with a number of individuals throwing beer, glasses and urine around, while a large bin was broken.

"There were also incidents of coins and cigarette lighters being thrown into the home supporters' area.

Police made arrests for drunkenness and criminal damage.

"We made the decision to reduce the allocation after similar behaviour three years ago.''

l* Boro defender Stuart Parnaby has been named in the England Under-21 squad for the Euro 2004 games against Slovakia and Macedonia this Friday and a week today

* Striker Massimo Maccarone has been overlooked by Italy after they named their squad for the Euro qualifying double header.

The former Empoli man had been widely tipped to make the squad to face Yugoslavia on 12 October and Wales on 16 October after settling in quickly to life on Teesside following his £8.15m move in the summer.

However, despite enhancing his growing reputation with four goals in nine Premiership games, Azzurri coach Giovanni Trapattoni has ignored the temptation to call up the 23-year-old.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.