ALEN BOKSIC is ready to fight for his place with Middlesbrough in the face of competition from Riverside-bound Massimo Maccarone.

Boro are understood to be close to confirming the £8.3m arrival of the Italy Under-21 striker.

Empoli star Maccarone is likely to be the first of two frontline signings as Boro manager Steve McClaren looks to boost his side's firepower.

The new recruits will put greater pressure on 32-year-old Boksic, who was Boro's leading scorer last season but managed only eight goals as he spent lengthy spells out through injury and illness.

However, the Croatia ace is determined to overcome the disappointment of his country's World Cup failure by rediscovering his form with Boro.

Boksic, signed by Bryan Robson from Lazio for £2.5m nearly two years ago, confirmed: "I am staying at Middlesbrough.

"I feel fine there. I didn't expect that I was going to feel like that in England."

Boksic will hardly have endeared himself to Boro fans with the admission that his whole season was geared towards the World Cup.

But it all turned sour as Croatia crashed out after losing to group rivals Ecuador.

Boksic, who missed his nation's third-place finish in France four years ago when he was ruled out through injury, said: "I lived for this World Cup.

"I tried to avoid getting any new injuries and did not take any unnecessary risks.

"I cannot describe what I felt when I realised I had pain in my abdominal muscles when preparing.

"I was really afraid that I would be a spectator at the World Cup again.

"I wasn't optimistic after the game against Mexico, but everything changed after the win against Italy.

"After that we expected a win in the last game and at least one game in the second round."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.