ALEN Boksic is set to return for Middlesbrough tomorrow with the full backing from manager Steve McClaren.

The Croatian striker is likely to make his first start since the draw with Blackburn in August, as fellow frontman Szilard Nemeth continues to struggle with a hamstring injury.

And confident boss McClaren believes a revitalised Boksic will continue to get the best out of young strike partner Massimo Maccarone.

"Alen's attitute has been first class and what has encouraged me the most is the way he has helped Massimo settle," he said.

"He is forever talking to Massimo and he's been a great help to make sure he has adapted to the English game.

"Young strikers are always going to be delighted to play with someone like Alen Boksic.

"You can see the relationship Massimo and Alen have got on the field. He's a player who commands respect from the other players.

"We're impressed with Alen and he's shown a tremendous attitude since coming back and he's chomping at the bit to be back on Saturday."

Boksic, whose current contract runs out in June, has had to sit on the bench for the last three matches and watch as Nemeth, Maccarone and Joseph-Desire Job have all hit form.

The former Lazio and Juventus man was understood to be on the verge of leaving in the summer with, ironically, tomorrow's opponents Tottenham mentioned as a possible destination.

However, a move for the 32-year-old never materialised and McClaren insists it was never his intention to allow the player to leave.

"There was talk about him leaving but there was never any talk between ourselves about that," he said. "It really never got to that stage and he was always coming back.

"It was just a case of us hoping he would come back from the World Cup, in the last year of his contract, with the motivation to come back.

"He's certainly shown that he still has that and he's helping out other players and he's accepting the team is playing well and he has had to go on the bench.

"But he has also been ready when called upon."

McClaren also admits the rejuvenation of Boksic has been largely down to the star names the Riverside chief has bought during the summer.

Geremi signed on loan from Real Madrid, Juninho made a £3.8m move from Atletico Madrid, Maccarone joined from Empoli in a £8.15m deal and George Boateng signed for £5m from Aston Villa.

But the Boro boss believes Boksic is not the only man to be feeling the effects from the injection of new blood into the squad.

"Signing new players was certainly one thing that we wanted to do," said the former Manchester United No 2, who also made Franck Queudrue's loan deal from Lens permanent.

"And signing players of the quality of Boateng, Geremi, Juninho has been an inspiration for all of us.

"You can see that in Nemeth, Job and Massimo; and some of the younger players like Jon Greening.

"They have been inspired by the players around them."

Boro skipper Gareth Southgate is fit and is expected to play at White Hart Lane

George Boateng, who trained for the first time yesterday after shrugging off the flu and a hamstring injury, is also set for a return to action.

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