ALEN BOKSIC and Alan Shearer tonight face a derby shoot-out which could prove to be the first in a fascinating four-year series.

That is the fervent hope of the rival managers as Middlesbrough meet Newcastle United at the Riverside Stadium.

Boro boss Bryan Robson has hailed Croatia star Boksic as "one of the best strikers I've ever seen'' and stressed: "He said when he came here in the summer that he wanted to give us four good years.''

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson, meanwhile, reckons the outlook is similar for Shearer.

While the United skipper quit the England scene in the summer, fellow 30-year-old Boksic mapped out his aim to lead Croatia to the World Cup finals.

But Bryan Robson rejects suggestions that Shearer's decision points to his career being on the wane - and puts him on a par with Boksic.

Indeed, Robson tried to sign the ex-England captain little more than a year ago when his future was in doubt under former United boss Ruud Gullit.

That is why the Boro manager purrs at the prospect of Boksic and Shearer going head-to-head.

"It's got all the ingredients of a classic shoot-out,'' admitted Robson.

"I don't think Alan Shearer is over the hill. Whenever he goes on to a football pitch, even in a practice match, he's always likely to score.

"If we give him one chance, the ball will probably end up in the back of the net. I think he and Alen Boksic are both at the peak of their careers.''

Bobby Robson agrees. "People are bound to compare Shearer and Boksic,'' he said. "They prove that there's life after 30.

"A good, technical player, in good condition, can play for a number of seasons.

"At one time, Boksic would have arguably been the best striker in Europe and certainly one of the top four in the world along with the likes of Shearer.

"But it wouldn't surprise me if Alan gave Newcastle another four very good years. I think he's realised he's given his country a good stint. There might come a time when he misses being involved with England, but he won't regret his decision.

"He's had a two-week break while England have been playing and that's beneficial to Alan and us. He's fresher and fitter than he would have been if he'd been with England.''

Boksic, on the other hand, has had to shake off shoulder and rib injuries to be ready for tonight after being on the end of a buffeting in the midweek World Cup qualifier against Scotland.

Having scored a superb opener, quickly countered by Newcastle's Kevin Gallacher, Boksic was carried off in Zagreb after taking kicks and blows which also cost him two teeth.

Reputedly picking up £63,000-a-week on Teesside, Boksic has scored five goals in as many starts for Boro since his £2.5m move from Lazio.

And Bryan Robson insisted: "He's proved that he is here to try to achieve something. He's only 30. At that age, people start writing you off.

"If Alen had decided he was just in the game for money, he would have retired from playing for Croatia.

"But he wants to achieve with them and us. I've been watching him for six or seven years. I've followed his career and he's one of the best strikers I've ever seen.

"But until he came here, Marseille were the only team who really played him as a centre-forward. Lazio and Juventus tended to use him as a wideman in a 4-3-3 formation.

"In fact, when I was speaking to him about coming here, Giuseppe Signori came on the phone to Alen to try to talk him into joining him at Bologna.

"That was because Alen created so many chances for him when they were together at Lazio.

"I think there were quite a few Italian clubs trying to get Alen once they knew he was leaving Lazio and that I was meeting him.''

Boro boss Robson is being linked with another Serie A swoop. Parma's Italian international midfielder Dino Baggio, a player long-admired by Robson, is being offered to Boro for £5m after a proposed move to Lazio collapsed