HAMILTON RICARD is facing make-or-break at Middlesbrough as German side Wolfsburg wait in the wings to resurrect the Colombian striker's career.

The Bundesliga outfit are keeping tabs on 27-year-old Ricard, who is recalled to the Boro squad for today's trip to Blackburn.

Leading scorer in his first two full seasons on Teesside following his £2m arrival from Deportivo Cali over three-and-a-half years ago, Ricard has started only two games this season.

His last Premiership appearance was over three months ago, when he suffered the indignity of being hauled off at half-time when Boro were beaten 2-0 defeat at Everton.

But after a family holiday in his native country, during which he was struck down by a virus, Ricard is again ready to fight for his place in the final year of his contract.

Manager Steve McClaren, who has largely relied on Alen Boksic, Szilard Nemeth and Carlos Marinelli for attacking inspiration, is set to name Ricard among his substitutes at Ewood Park as Boro look to rediscover their goal touch after successive goalless draws.

McClaren said: "Hamilton went home for seven days and unfortunately picked up something which laid him low.

"He's come back with his wife and child and they've gone down with it as well.

"But he's in the squad and he's in the last year of his contract, so he's got a lot to prove in a short space of time.

"He can be on the bench at Blackburn and it can be 0-0 again with ten minutes to go, and he can come on and score the winning goal.

"Then he's thrust into the spotlight again, and that's what football is all about. You have to be ready when the opportunity comes.

"The likes of Boksic, Nemeth and Marinelli have done quite well and gone ahead of Hamilton, but that can all change.

"Certainly Hamilton has the ability to change things.''

Ricard has something of a reputation for being a moody player, but McClaren said: "Although I heard that when I came here, Hamilton has been one of those likeable characters from day one since I arrived. He enjoys training and really puts the effort in.

"I have no qualms about his attitude. He's never put his head down and looked miserable.

"The fact that he was leading scorer here for two seasons shows that he has ability and talent.

"Now he needs a stage on which to demonstrate that again. We have plenty of forwards and we've been shuffling people around to try to find the right combination.

"We just settled on the partnership of Boksic and Nemeth, and with Marinelli coming in, they seemed to grow together.

"It's all about competition within the club, pure and simple, and that's what we've wanted. We've got the likes of Hamilton, Joseph Job, Dean Windass and Noel Whelan, all snapping at the heels of those who are already in the team.''

Andy Campbell could soon join that group. The 22-year-old striker, who hasn't figured this season after undergoing surgery for a foot problem, is poised to make his comeback with a second-string outing next week.

McClaren said: "He's training very well. He's not far away; we're possibly looking at a work-out for him in the reserves next week.''

McClaren's hopes of naming an unchanged side today hinge on whether right-back Robbie Stockdale recovers from an ankle injury sustained in training yesterday, his 22nd birthday.

"We're hoping Robbie will recover in time,'' said McClaren. "He's twisted his ankle slightly.''

England Under-21 international Stockdale displaced Curtis Fleming, who has been loaned to Birmingham, and McClaren added: "Robbie has been fantastic.

"From day one, he has taken the bull by the horns and worked hard to proved to us, and himself, that he can play in the Premier League. He's got better in each game and I think there's a lot more to come from him.'

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