MIDDLESBROUGH striker Brian Deane last night admitted that Steve McClaren has rescued his career after a period of torment under Terry Venables.

Deane has only one more season on his contract but insists he would love to spend the rest of his playing days at the Riverside.

New manager McClaren has made the difference, using Deane in his preferred role as a target man and re-introducing wing play with the £600,000 signing of Allan Johnston from Rangers.

Deane, signed by Bryan Robson from Benfica for £3m almost three years ago, became a peripheral figure when Venables arrived as head coach last December to bail Boro out of relegation trouble.

Venables named Deane only twice in his starting line-up - once in the Premiership.

Deane, linked with former club Sheffield United and Bolton in the summer, admits he feared he might have to move on to find first-team football.

But by McClaren's own admission, Deane has been instrumental in Boro's three-match unbeaten top-flight run after four defeats at the start of the season.

Former England international Deane, 33, said: "I see my future in this league. I've got one year on my contract after this and I'd love to end my career here.

"We're playing a lot of attacking football at the moment and in my days at Sheffield United and Leeds, I was always at my best when we played that way.

"Playing with wingers like Allan Johnston suits my game - not being a wide player myself!

"I have been played wide in the past both here and elsewhere. It wasn't something I enjoyed doing, it was just something I was asked to do.

"It was tough not being involved much last season, getting ten minutes here and there and playing out of position. I'm not used to being a sub. I've played a lot of games at the top level and being a sub is not my cup of tea.

"I've always had faith in my ability. Last season, when I came into the team, I was being played out of position, so I wasn't getting the chance to play how I can. In that situation, it's like playing with your hands tied.

"I'm enjoying things now because I'm playing and we're looking to get the ball forward quicker, which has helped me. We're getting up behind the ball and supporting people early, and that unsettles defences.

"A few victories makes everybody more receptive to each other. If a team's not doing well, you tend to think that everybody has their own agenda.

"But we've got a good bunch of lads here. I think the forwards here have all got a good pedigree. It's just a case of finding the right combination.''

Buoyant Boro host bottom club Southampton tomorrow, and Deane warned: "We might have jumped off the bottom ourselves, but we're still in the same boat as Southampton. We know we'll have a fight on our hands.''

Meanwhile, Serie A side Brescia have cooled their interest in Boro skipper Paul Ince after signing former Newcastle target Josep Guardiola from Barcelona.

Ince's agent, Steve Kutner, announced this week that the ex-England captain, 33, wants to end his career in Italy's top flight after it was claimed Boro refused to offer him a new contract for next season.

But McClaren and Ince yesterday insisted they would hold talks "after Christmas'' before any decision is made about the midfielder's future.

McClaren, who maintained Ince is "not for sale,'' explained: "I talked to all the players concerned before the start of the season and told them I was not in a position to offer them contract extensions at that time. I plan to do that after Christmas.''

Ince, who had two years in Italy with Inter Milan, said: "There'll be no decision made until I sit down and talk to Steve.''

l Slovakia striker Szilard Nemeth scored twice and Joseph Job was also on target, as Boro Reserves drew 3-3 with Huddersfield in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Hurworth.