FIRST Division Gillingham are ready to offer a lifeline to forgotten Middlesbrough defender Dean Gordon.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler is eager to add 29-year-old Gordon's experience to his squad for a promotion push next season.

Injury-plagued Gordon, signed by Bryan Robson from Crystal Palace for £900,000 nearly four years ago, is out of contract at the end of the season and set to leave the Riverside on a free after failing to win a place under Steve McClaren.

Former England Under-21 left-back Gordon spent a loan spell with Cardiff this season, but has made only one substitute appearance for Boro - in the derby win at Sunderland in February - since McClaren took charge.

The writing was on the wall for Gordon when McClaren signed French left-back Franck Queudrue on loan from Lens in October, and the Boro manager is poised to make the deal permanent.

Meanwhile, McClaren has questioned his players' attitude in the wake of Saturday's dire 3-1 home defeat by Blackburn.

He said: "It doesn't matter about systems or tactics, it's your approach and your attitude. We looked again in the first half as though we were waiting to get beaten.

"We went a goal down and then started to play a little, and at least got inside their boots, competed and won tackles."

As reported in Northern Echo Sport on Saturday, McClaren is refusing to rule out a return for centre-back Ugo Ehiogu (hamstring) and midfielder Jonathan Greening (calf) in tomorrow night's rearranged game at Ipswich.

"I hope it's a better game than the one just gone - games like that age me from my relatively young 40 years to feeling about 65!

"Performances like that must frustrate the fans and drive them crazy as much as it does us. But we'll put it right."

* Former Argentina World Cup star Rene Houseman believes Boro had a lucky escape when Diego Forlan snubbed them in favour of a move to Manchester United.

Houseman said he wrote to United manager Sir Alex Ferguson urging him not to proceed with the £7.5m signing of Uruguay striker Forlan from Argentinian side Independiente.

Forlan has yet to score for United in 14 appearances, four as a starter, in all competitions.

Houseman, now working as an agent, said: "I disagreed with the Forlan deal because I sent a letter to Mr Ferguson and never got a reply. I said that, with the experience I have as an ex-player and the knowledge I have of Forlan, he is not made for England.''

* Blackburn midfielder Craig Hignett will miss the rest of the season after having an operation on his troublesome Achilles.

Hignett was due to have surgery yesterday and Blackburn hope he will be back in time for pre-season training in July.

Hignett could have battled on until the end of the season, but with Rovers' Premiership safety all but assured, the club decided it was better for him to have his operation now.

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