ALEN BOKSIC has handed Middlesbrough an injury worry for tonight's visit to newly-promoted Bolton as Steve McClaren urges his shell-shocked side to silence the doubters following Saturday's nightmare 4-0 home defeat by Arsenal.

Croatia striker Boksic, Boro's player of the year last season with a 12-goal haul, took a painful kick on the calf from Gunners' skipper Tony Adams and is undergoing intensive treatment.

"There's a fair bit of bruising,'' admitted McClaren last night. "Hopefully we can get rid of that by tomorrow, so he has a chance. I would rate him at 60-40 to play.

"He's very important to us. He's a world-class player and a goalscorer and we need him.''

McClaren yesterday revealed he will appeal against the sending-off of defender Ugo Ehiogu in the Arsenal debacle.

It proved a harsh introduction to management for former Manchester United No 2 McClaren as Boro were dealt a cruel blow when Robert Pires converted a penalty four minutes from time after Ehiogu was sent off by referee Graham Barber for bringing down England colleague Ashley Cole.

But replays showed that Ehiogu scarcely touched the left-back and the challenge took place outside the penalty area.

Ehiogu, Boro's record £8m signing, faces a one-match ban which would rule him out of the derby clash with Newcastle at the Riverside two weeks on Saturday.

But McClaren confirmed: "We're going to appeal. It's difficult for the referee to make a decision from so far away, but we're going to ask him to look at the video evidence and admit that maybe he was wrong. Hopefully we'll get the suspension quashed

"I felt sorry for Ugo. It was an innocuous challenge - no way was it malicious or intentional.''

McClaren insisted: "I think there's been a bit of over-reaction in certain quarters to what happened on Saturday. But there's no panic from us.

"Even though we were one down, we were controlling the game and for 85 minutes we were still in it.

"Then you get a penalty given against you that was never a penalty. It wasn't a harsh challenge - it was outside the box if anything.

"But there's been no knee-jerk reaction here.

"All I can see is a determination in the players' eyes to prove people wrong and put things right.

"I certainly haven't lost faith or trust in the players just because of Saturday's result. This is where you find out about people. We'll learn more about how the players react in adversity.''

McClaren hailed the fans reaction to the opening-day setback as "magnificent''.

Boro have sold only 22,000 season tickets, but McClaren said: "I thought the crowd were magnificent, and we've sold 2,000 tickets for Bolton.''

Sam Allardyce's men marked their return to the Premiership with a thumping 5-0 win at Leicester and McClaren conceded: "They'll be cock-a-hoop after scoring five magnificent goals. I think Sam has done a marvellous job there.''

Meanwhile, Boro defender Steve Vickers has turned down the chance to join Crystal Palace in a £500,000 deal, while midfielder Phil Stamp is still in talks with Millwall over a proposed £800,000 move.

Read more about Middlesbrough FC here.