MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has turned to South Africa striker Benni McCarthy in a frantic attempt to find a remedy for his side's early-season malaise.

First-time manager McClaren decided to act in the wake of three straight defeats and no goals scored, by opening talks with Spanish giants Celta Vigo, who are understood to be ready to off-load McCarthy for a cut-price £4m.

McClaren's patience began to wear thin when Boro were beaten 2-0 at Everton on Saturday, hard on the heels of the 1-0 setback at Bolton and opening-day 4-0 crash at home to Arsenal.

Former Manchester United assistant manager McClaren now knows the squad he has inherited from the Bryan Robson regime is in need of a drastic overhaul and there are question marks over the futures of several key players, including skipper Paul Ince.

Fans also fear there is a real danger that talismanic striker Alen Boksic, Boro's player of the year last season and leading scorer with 12 goals, will grow weary of his side's struggles unless McClaren can reverse the current trend.

Boksic missed the Goodison Park clash with a calf injury, even though McClaren announced on Friday that he was 80 per cent certain the Croatian would return after sitting out the Bolton game.

Despite his absence on Saturday, Boksic was yesterday named in the 23-strong Croatia squad for the crucial World Cup qualifer with Scotland at Hampden Park this weekend.

If McClaren gets his way, Boksic will be joined on Teesside by one-time Aston Villa target McCarthy, who former Boro boss Robson tried to sign on a six-month loan deal last winter.

l ITV have targeted Manchester United's four Saturday fixtures next month as the matches which will help them bump up their below-par viewing figures for the new 'The Premiership' show.

Only 3.1 m viewers watched Saturday's programme - a massive 1.2 million less than the much-criticised first edition nine days ago.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men take on Everton at Old Trafford on September 8, Newcastle at St James' Park on the 15th, Ipswich at home on the 22nd and Tottenham at White Hart Lane on the 29th.

Read more about Middlesbrough FC here.