MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren admits inspirational centre-back Gareth Southgate took a gamble when joining the club last summer.

But the Boro boss has been delighted to see his £6.5m capture prove that it was a gamble worth taking.

There were many raised eyebrows when Southgate quit Aston Villa for McClaren's Riverside revolution last July.

However, the 31-year-old's performances in a Boro shirt have probably already secured his place in England's World Cup squad this summer.

And McClaren, whose side are hoping to strengthen their Premiership survival hopes with victory at home to Tottenham this evening, said: "It was a bit of a gamble for him coming here.

"It was well documented that Gareth wanted to leave Villa back then and, after the beginning which this club had, a lot of people were criticising his decision to come here.

"But he's worked his socks off to make sure he turned that around and prove a lot of people wrong.

"One of his great strengths is his attitude to prove people wrong. That's why he feels so passionately after each game and each victory."

When Southgate first arrived on Teesside it had been expected that he would be named McClaren's first skipper.

But instead the captain's armband remained with uncompromising midfielder Paul Ince.

And McClaren was impressed with Southgate's attitude, saying: "You can't have too many leaders in the team.

"Unfortunately Paul Ince was already here - and what a revelation he's been - and Gareth was someone I always admired.

"He came in and accepted Paul Ince was the captain and I've got two great players here who can both be captain. I'm sure a lot of Premier League clubs would love to have them."

It is nine years since a defender was crowned Players' Player of the Year - when Aston Villa's Paul McGrath picked up the award in 1993.

And few would argue if Southgate's name appeared on the short-list this time around.

Star names like Robert Pires, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Thierry Henry have all been mentioned - but not Southgate.

And McClaren said: "It's always difficult for defenders to get the recognition along with the flair players. But I'm sure Gareth is only concerned with performing and trying to make Middlesbrough successful.

"That would lead to international recognition with the World Cup coming up.

"Gareth's greatest strength is his attitude and professionalism. He does everything right and prepares right. The sign of a great player, no matter what age, is to try to get better, and Gareth is like that."

Boro have a goalkeeper crisis as they go into today's match with Spurs. McClaren has had to recall reserve team keeper Marlon Beresford from his loan spell at Burnley after major doubts over Mark Schwarzer and Mark Crossley's fitness.

The Boro chief said: "Schwarzer fell ill and Crossley has had knee problems for a couple of weeks so we've brought Marlon back."

Schwarzer has picked up the same bug which Paul Ince has been struggling with this week and the midfielder is also a doubt.

McClaren also has question marks over the fitness of strikers Szilard Nemeth and Alen Boksic after the pair returned from international duty yesterday, while Jon Greening is still a doubt with a groin injury.

But after their second victory in two months over Manchester United last weekend took them to tenth in the Premiership, coupled with an FA Cup semi-final place, Boro supporters are buzzing.

"It's great for the players to beat United twice," said McClaren, whose side have lost just three since the turn of the year.

l Boro boss McClaren believes there is a lesson to be learned following the collapse of ITV Digital this week.

The futures of many clubs in the Football League are in doubt following the company's demise.

And McClaren is convinced that football needed to have a shock to wake it up to all the potential pitfalls. "It's a concern all around because there is so much that TV companies can put into football," said McClaren.

"We're now looking ahead to what happens when the current deal in the Premier League expires.

"I think it's a lesson to everyone in football that the money will not always be there. You have to look to the future and make sure you plan ahead and those clubs that haven't will come unstuck.

"It's a shame for the small clubs but maybe something like this needed to happen to get some semblance of normality back into football.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.