FREED from the financial strait-jacket that so constricted his transfer movements last season, Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren is now ready to strike out in a determined bid for honours.

Last term, McClaren's first as a manager, was initially all about survival - and ultimately all about consolidation.

Boro averted the threat of relegation and climbed into mid-table in the hope of bettering the ninth-place Premiership finish they had achieved under former boss Bryan Robson three years earlier.

But when they ended their League campaign as they had begun it, with four consecutive defeats, the new regime were forced to settle for 12th spot and the consolation that they came within an ace of reaching the FA Cup final.

Overall, as far as McClaren was concerned, he had made the most of a squad that was in need of a radical overhaul.

But he was unhappy with the relatively meagre transfer funds that had been made available following the lavish spending during the eventful, seven-year Robson era.

Loan deals and short-term recruits became the order of the day after McClaren received little more than £10m to strengthen the side - £6.5m of which went on England defender Gareth Southgate.

The managaer was told to slash the wage bill and cut the size of his squad.

He fulfilled his brief and now, over a year since he succeeded Robson, McClaren has to date shipped out the equivalent of roughly two teams' worth of players.

His reward was a near-£20m war chest and, among others, a club record capture in £8.15m Italian striker Massimo Maccarone from Empoli.

Now that McClaren is in clover, he can't point to a lack of resources if Boro fail to build on the solid platform that was put in place last season.

After a disastrous start, when they conceded 11 goals in those four opening games and scored only one in the process, McClaren tightened his rearguard to the extent that they ended up boasting one of the better defensive records in the top flight.

What Boro were short of were goals. Croatia striker Alen Boksic was troubled by injuries but still emerged as top scorer with only eight to his name.

That is why McClaren has taken what first-team coach Steve Harrison admitted was something of a gamble with the signing of 22-year-old Maccarone, a player who has yet to taste top-flight football in his career.

A creative force was also lacking last season until McClaren brought in another Italian, Benito Carbone, on loan.

The playmaker became a firm favourite with the fans, who were disappointed when a permanent deal failed to materialise.

But McClaren has appeased them in the best possible way - by returning their all-time favourite to the Riverside Stadium.

Juninho is back where he, and every Boro follower, believes he belongs.

Having lived the dream in helping Brazil win the World Cup in the Far East this summer, he is now hoping that his third coming coincides with Boro's first major trophy.

During his first spell on Teesside five years ago, he was robbed of Coca-Cola Cup and FA Cup final glory.

The fans who so adore him have been waiting 126 years for meaningful silverware.

And they will now be praying he makes a speedy recovery from his cruciate injury and helps McClaren work the oracle.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.