STEVE McCLAREN insists the kudos of coaching England has assisted him in guiding Middlesbrough to third place in the Premiership.

The Boro manager, formerly No 2 to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, is rapidly building a reputation for himself as Sven-Goran Eriksson's trusted lieutenant.

Ambitious McClaren, who is determined to get to the top in his profession, grew in stature as assistant coach to the national team during this summer's World Cup and is now being touted as a strong candidate to succeed Eriksson in two years' time.

The modest McClaren shies away from such talk, but admits: "I think being involved with England has helped enormously here this season.

"Without that, I don't think we would have attracted the quality of players we did in the summer.

"You are always looking for a selling point, and I suppose my involvement with England was one when it came to signing Massimo Maccarone, George Boateng and Geremi.

"It benefits me and it benefits the club, and hopefully it benefits the national team.

"I'd come from Manchester United as well, so I had certain credentials and a profile. Now I can say to players: 'Come and join us - we've got Ugo Ehiogu, Gareth Southgate, Mark Schwarzer, Juninho, Alen Boksic, Boateng and Maccarone'.''

McClaren, who succeeded Bryan Robson as Boro boss in the summer of last year, added: "I just smile when I read my name being linked with the England job.

"I saw that I would get it in 2004, but look what can happen in two years in football. You learn to take things with a pinch of salt.''

McClaren launched his managerial career with four straight defeats at the start of last season, but he stressed: "I can honestly say I never doubted my credentials for management.

"I just thought it was part of the process, losing the first four games. If you look back on anyone's career, even the top managers have losing spells and are in the depths of despair.

"The important thing was coming through that, sticking to what I believed in and knowing everything would work out.

"We're not there yet, even though there has been a lot of praise for me and the team. We know if we lose this weekend against Bolton, I'll be useless next week!

"The most pleasing thing is the progress the club has made. I would say it's in a far better state than it was when I first walked through the door - and that's no disrespect to who was here before.

"I wanted to build the club my way and I've been fortunate that I've been allowed to do that.

"But there's still a long way to go.

"There's always pressure, whether you are trying to get out of the bottom three as we were last year, or whether you are trying to stay in the top three.

"I want things done right - if that's ambition, then I'm ambitious.

"I want to be regarded as one of the best managers in the game, but I've got some way to go."

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