STAR striker Alen Boksic last night revealed the importance of turning around Middlesbrough's dreadful home form.

Since the Croatian was signed by former manager Bryan Robson last summer, Boro have won just six from 23 Premiership fixtures on their own turf.

If it was not for the Teessiders' performances away from the Riverside, Boro would be playing in Division One at the moment.

And Boksic, who is currently top of the club's scoring charts with just two goals, insists that they need to take three points from games in front of their own fans.

"Last year we played well away and we lost too many matches at home," said Boksic, who found the net 13 times in last season.

"I hope this year will be different. I hope we win more matches at home because it's important for the team and for our supporters."

Boksic has been criticised in recent weeks for his failure to shrug of a bruised calf injury sustained in the opening-day 4-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.

But the 31-year-old has remained a favourite among supporters, who are more than aware that his exceptional talent would be difficult to replace.

And Boksic, who was voted Boro's Player of the Year last season, thanked those who continue to back both him and the team.

"Thank you (supporters) for everything because last year they were always in the stadium behind us," said Boksic, who is expected to face Blackburn in the Worthington Cup on Wednesday night.

"Sometimes I was surprised for this because we lost too many matches at home.

"I sometimes asked myself why, because when I was in Italy if you lost two or three games at home, the next match you don't have anyone in the stadium. I was very happy about this attitude."

Perugia have emerged as favourites to land Boro skipper Paul Ince should the former England midfielder be shown the door by manager Steve McClaren next summer.

Ince's contract expires at the end of the current campaign and his agent, Steve Kutner, is said to be already touting the player's name around different clubs.

And the 33-year-old is tipped by many to return to Italy, where he spent two years after signing from Manchester United in July 1995.

And now Perugia's former Inter president, Luciano Gaucci, is keen to snap up Ince as a replacement for Italian international Fabio Liveroni, who has agreed to sign for Lazio.

Meanwhile, Boro officials have denied that McClaren is chasing Ipswich Town full-back Jamie Clapham.

McClaren has been linked with a £2m move for the out-of-favour 25-year-old, but a Boro spokesperson said: "We don't normally comment on transfer speculation. However, this story is heading in the wrong direction."

Read more about the Boro here.