MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren has hailed the form of experienced striker Brian Deane.

The giant front-man has been a key figure for Boro in their recent run, which has seen them go three Premiership matches unbeaten.

At 33 many believe Deane's time at the Riverside is coming to an end but McClaren has been delighted with former Leeds United forward.

The Boro boss opted to play Deane up front alongside Alen Boksic at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, instead of drafting in either Joseph-Desire Job or summer signing Szilard Nemeth.

The former England international, impressive against West Ham and Leicester, performed well again to stake a further claim to head the line against Southampton at home this weekend.

McClaren, who did not even include Deane on the bench at the start of the season, said: "I think Deano has done a tremendous job.

"He has led the front line superbly and he has caused problems for defenders in the air.

"That's what we have needed and I thought he played well alongside Alen."

It is a massive turnaround for Deane, who had come under fire last season from the Boro faithful and had to spend much of the campaign watching Hamilton Ricard and Boksic forming the attacking partnership.

The £3m capture from Benfica in October 1998 was linked with summer moves to Sheffield United and Bolton, but they failed to materialise and now Deane will be hoping he can maintain the standards he is currently setting himself.

McClaren will step up his bid to sign a full-back after Italian Antonio Bennarivo rejected the offer from the Teessiders.

The 33-year-old former international has refused to move to the North-East, despite an ambition to ply his trade in the Premiership.

After being impressed by the club's training facilities he admitted he was not prepared to make the year-long loan switch from his Serie A club Parma.

He was on Teesside on Friday to discuss a temporary move with a view to a permanent transfer.

However, he admitted: ''It's 99 per cent certain that I will stay in Italy. Middlesbrough stimulates me, but the surroundings of Parma are beautiful.

''I've been here for ten years. The club is in my heart and everyone - the fans, the people in the city and the people at the club - like me.

''I've been here such a long time, I don't want to go. It would hurt me too much.''

Bennarivo, who can play either on the right or left of defence, would have given McClaren more options.

Brescia's Polish defender Jan Marek Kozminski is being hotly-tipped as Boro's next target but it is understood that there are a number of players who the club are watching, including West Brom's highly-rated Neil Clement.

Colin Cooper has been playing left-back this season and youngster David Murphy made an impressive scoring debut in that role against Northampton in the Worthington Cup.

But at only 17, McClaren seems keen to ensure the progress of Murphy's promising talent is not rushed along, although the Hartlepool-born England youth international has been included in match-day squads.

Ugo Ehiogu is expected to recover from a back injury in time to play against Southampton after missing Sunday's 2-2 draw with Chelsea. Keeper Mark Schwarzer is also pencilled in for a return.

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