CROATIAN Alen Boksic has given manager Steve McClaren a huge boost ahead of the new campaign.

The 32-year-old striker scored in his first pre-season game yesterday when a Boro XI entertained Grimsby Town at Rockliffe Park.

Boksic has been struggling with a calf injury but he restarted training on Monday.

And now the former Lazio and Juventus man has been given the all-clear to kick-start Boro's Premiership adventure on Saturday at Southampton.

The availability of Boksic has come at a useful time for McClaren, who has had to face up to the serious cruciate knee ligament injury sustained by Juninho.

The Boro chief also welcomed back Carlos Marinelli (thigh), Colin Cooper (hamstring) and David Murphy (hamstring) during the 6-0 win over Grimsby Town.

And McClaren is now faced with a selection dilemma for the trip to St Mary's.

"Juninho aside, it looks like we will have an almost fully fit squad to start the season," said McClaren, who is also without French left-back Franck Queudrue.

"I need to make two decisions over the next few days.

"I have to decide who is to take the left-back role during Franck's suspension, and who will take Juninho's place up front."

Boksic, Marinelli, Szilard Nemeth and Noel Whelan are all battling to take on the Saints alongside record signing Massimo Maccarone up front.

For the vacant left-back role, youngsters Murphy and Stuart Parnaby are competing with Gianluca Festa and Colin Cooper to fill the void.

Meanwhile, Swedish winger Jesper Blomqvist is still training with the club with a view to securing a permanent deal.

The 28-year-old was expected to be handed a 12-month contract at the Riverside after impressing during a trial last month.

However, he injured ligaments while playing for Boro in a friendly with Udinese and McClaren is waiting to see how the problem heals.

Former Manchester United star Blomqvist, who was released by Everton at the end of last season, is seen by McClaren as the man to develop 18-year-old Stewart Downing

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