BENITO CARBONE rekindled his love-hate relationship with Dean Windass as they combined to salvage a vital point for relegation-threatened Middlesbrough.

Windass had lost his place to former Bradford sparring partner Carbone following the Italian striker's arrival on loan from Valley Parade for the rest of the season.

But Windass, linked with a move to bottom club Leicester in part exchange for £6m-rated midfielder Muzzy Izzet, emerged from the bench ten minutes from time and eight minutes later headed home Carbone's corner to deny Leeds victory.

Carbone said: "Dean Windass said a few things to me when he realised I was taking his place here - he pretended to be angry.

"It was good to be back on a pitch with him. He was my friend at Bradford and we had a good year together.

"I do not know if he is going to go, but I hope he stays here.''

Boro manager Steve McClaren insisted he has had no approach for Windass and the 32-year-old schemer remains a key member of the squad.

But he admitted things could change. "Dean had a spell on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and he has come back and been magnificent for us,'' said McClaren.

"It has just been unfortunate for him that we signed Carbone, but Dean is a vital member of the squad.

"Who knows what happens in football? I've had no contact with anybody and Dean has not expressed a wish to leave.''

Boro centre-back Gareth Southgate said: "It's a quirk of fate that Carbone takes over from his former Bradford teammate, who then comes on, and the two of them are involved in the goal.

"Dean took the chance brilliantly and he was full of it in the dressing-room afterwards. He'll probably be hiring an open-top bus around Boro - it's his first goal of the season.''

McClaren, meanwhile, confirmed that he has still not discussed a new contract with skipper Paul Ince, whose current deal runs out at the end of the season, even though talks were originally due to begin around Christmas.

Ince picked up his fifth booking of the season in a storming display, and is now banned for the return to former club West Ham a week on Saturday.

"Paul is going to get bookings because of the way he plays,'' stressed McClaren.

"We're reaching a stage in the season now where you're going to get suspensions - look at Leeds, they had three players (Lee Bowyer, Danny Mills and Alan Smith) out for this game.

"Paul inspired us in the second half, but we've coped without him before and we'll cope again.

"We haven't discussed his future yet and we're in a hectic schedule now.''

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