STEVE McCLAREN is flattered to hear that Arsenal's double-winning manager Arsene Wenger has tipped Middlesbrough as dark horses for honours this season.

It was on the eve of last term, when McClaren took his first tentative steps into the managerial arena, that the Boro boss admitted he admires Svengali Wenger as much as he does mentor Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

What followed on the first day of last season was a salutary lesson. Wenger's Gunners welcomed rookie McClaren to the management game by unleashing a four-goal fusillade at a shell-shocked Riverside Stadium.

It was the first of four straight defeats for former Old Trafford assistant McClaren and questions quickly surfaced about his managerial mettle.

McClaren learned just as quickly, however, and ultimately proved his aptitude for the job by steering Boro to mid-table respectability after seeing off the spectre of relegation.

But Wenger's opinion of McClaren and his Boro side was surely formed the day last April when the Gunners double dream almost went up in smoke.

It took an unfortunate own goal by Gianluca Festa to secure Arsenal's place in the FA Cup final and cruelly crush McClaren's crusade to lead Boro to their first major trophy.

A summer coaching England to the last eight in the World Cup has added lustre to McClaren's burgeoning reputation and he is well aware that some now believe Boro are ready to ruffle the feathers of the Premiership's proud peacocks.

McClaren fights shy of any predictions and insists the top order - Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle, Leeds and Chelsea contested a pendulous title race last season - are still destined to set the pace.

Yet there is no doubting his determination to narrow the gap.

As he prepared his side for today's season opener at Southampton, McClaren said: "You'll always have the top six who will dominate, but there's always a surprise package.

"It was Ipswich two years ago and Newcastle came through last season.

"Generally, you can't look outside the top six. The top three from last season, although there will be challenges and the competition will be terrific, will roughly pan out the same.

"It was flattering, what Arsene Wenger said about us, but it doesn't matter what people say on the outside.

"People say that we've made signings and they expect this and that, but we just know that we need to produce.

"I think pre-season lasts too long. I can't wait for the season to start. I'm very pleased with the signings we've made and the squad we're developing.

"The potential is there and now we need to go out and prove it.

"Whatever is round the corner, we know we can cope with it. I believe we have a far better squad than we had 12 months ago.

"But it's imperative we get a good start this time. After losing our first four games last season, we were always playing catch-up.''

Among McClaren's near-£20m worth of summer recruits was the £3.8m return of Teesside's favourite footballing son, Brazilian midfielder Juninho.

But the World Cup winner suffered a cruciate ligament injury a week ago in a low-key tournament in Italy and is out for a lengthy stretch.

McClaren concedes he now has a "headache'' caused by a dilemma over who to play in tandem with club record £8.15m signing Massimo Maccarone.

Alen Boksic is favourite for the role, but McClaren insists: "The competition we have up front couldn't be better.

"I have quite a selection headache as to who will play up front - but at least it's a nice headache to have!

"Massimo has come in and done well, Szilard Nemeth looks stronger this year, Joseph Job has looked very good following his loan spell in France, Noel Whelan, who played up front last year and scored goals, has also done well and Dean Windass has been scoring.

"Alen Boksic has trained all week and got 45 minutes in a game the other day, so he is fit. Last year we had to rely largely on Alen because we didn't have that competition.''

In midfield, George Boateng - signed from Aston Villa for £5m - will assume the combative role performed so effectively by Paul Ince in his three years with Boro before his Bosman-style departure and a move to Wolves this summer.

Ince's exit left a double void as Boro also lost their inspirational skipper, but McClaren is confident that England defender Gareth Southgate will revel in the captaincy.

"Paul Ince did a tremendous job for us last season, both on and off the field,'' said McClaren.

"It's unfortunate he's not with us this year, but we've moved on and we have a more than capable captain to replace him in Gareth Southgate.

"One of the reasons I brought Gareth in last summer was that he's another great leader on and off the field, as he proved last season with his performances and his manner.

"Hopefully, he will take over the mantle very well.''

McClaren is a huge fan of Southampton boss Gordon Strachan and knows nothing will come easily at the St. Mary's Stadium.

"It's always tough at Southampton, whether at The Dell or St. Mary's, which is a fantastic new stadium,'' stressed McClaren.

"I have every respect for Gordon Strachan. He's gone there and got them out of trouble and they are playing good football.

"We have to make sure we match everything they do.'

Read more about Middlesbrough here.