MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren last night refuted suggestions that star striker Alen Boksic's future lies away from Teesside.

The Croatian has not played in either of Boro's two games since their 1-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Since that day Boksic, who has made just 26 appearances this season, has been plagued by groin and Achilles injuries and is rated as doubtful for this afternoon's visit of Chelsea.And McClaren insists thoughts of his top scorer leaving in the summer are wide of the mark and that the former Lazio striker is still in his plans.

"Alen has got another year left on his contract," said McClaren, who allowed the forward to go back to Italy for treatment.

"We have got a good relationship and I don't see why he won't be here to see it out."

And McClaren admits that Boksic's much-publicised £63,000-a-week wages - a figure continually denied by Boro - could be the reason why cynics get on his back.

"I think he has got a lot of unfair criticism and it could be that. All I know is that I've got no problems with him," said the Boro boss.

"It's frustrating when he doesn't play; not just for myself but ask Alen as well.

"His dealings with the media and the public have been spot on and he has never spoken out of turn and has been the perfect gentleman.

"He has spoken highly of the club and of the team. He is an easy target because of his well-publicised whatever (wages).

''If he's not fit, he can't play, but he's certainly contributed a hell of a lot to Middlesbrough Football Club in my eyes.

"He's got no problem with us and we've got no problem with him.''

He added: "Last season, Alen Boksic played 28 games and scored 12 goals.

''His 12 goals were very, very instrumental in Middlesbrough staying up. This season, he's played 26 games and scored eight goals, and those eight goals have been absolutely vital for us in a season when we haven't scored many or created many things, especially early on.

''His eight goals have been important ones and won us football matches. They have again kept Middlesbrough in this league."

And McClaren revealed that there is no one more desperate to pull on the Boro shirt, against Chelsea today and against Leeds on May 11, than Boksic.

"Alen wants to play and we want him to play," he said.

"He is probably less than 50-50 at the moment because Achilles are awkward injuries.

"He's got a couple of weeks between now and the end of the season and it gives us a bit more time for him and a couple of other players."

Boksic has been linked with moves to Tottenham and Olympiakos this season and only yesterday Japanese side Grampus Eight were named as a club monitoring his situation.

Meanwhile, Boro go into today's clash with Chelsea at the Riverside with their injury problems only slightly improving.

If Boksic does sit out he could be joined in the stands by skipper Paul Ince (groin) and Gareth Southgate (broken nose).

Gianluca Festa and Phil Stamp are also sidelined, but Jonathan Greening, Ugo Ehiogu, Robbie Mustoe, Dean Windass, Noel Whelan and Robbie Stockdale are all in the frame after shaking off injuries. And after two straight Premiership defeats McClaren said: "I don't like losing matches and we want to end the season optimistically and on a high.

"We've lost two and we want to play our last match of the season in front of our own fans and win."

l Chelsea defender John Terry has revealed his hurt at the selection ban which has not only ended his World Cup hopes but will also rule him out of the Under-21 European Championships.

Terry revealed: ''It's killed me, to be honest. You never know, with all the injuries to the full squad, I might have been called up for one of the friendlies.

''But that's not what has killed me most. It's not being allowed to go to Switzerland for the under-21 championships. I played all the games in the build-up. That's really, really hurt.'

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