Boksic's just Fab-ulous for Boro's success bid

Crack Croatian Alen Boksic makes his long-awaited debut in the season opener at Coventry, more than four years after Boro first tried to sign him.

Manager Bryan Robson failed to lure the lightning-quick Boksic from Lazio and instead paid Juventus a club record £7m for Ravanelli.

The controverisal Italian, who hit 31 goals in his one full season on Teesside, was constantly critical of Boro - but this summer advised Boksic to join them.

And Boro assistant boss Viv Anderson yesterday confirmed that Boksic was always their first choice.

Robson, frustrated in a second attempt to sign Boksic two years ago, was third-time-lucky when the 30-year-old finally arrived from Lazio in a £2.5m deal.

Anderson revealed: "Bryan and I saw him four years ago when we went to Wembley specifically to watch him play for Croatia.

"He's a quality player and he would have been our choice before Ravanelli, but he decided to stay where he was because he didn't think it was the right time to come to England.

"He remembered the conversation with Bryan and when he became available this year his agent contacted us to see if we were still interested, and we said 'yes'.''

Boro believe they have pulled off another transfer coup, with Anderson admitting: "When you're stuck out on a limb in this country like we are, it's always difficult to get quality players to come here.

"We've never won a thing and we've no tradition, but we try to compete and that's what we've tried to do since we came here six years ago.''

Boksic has won his battle for fitness and Anderson added: "He hasn't played a game yet but he trained hard with Lazio before he joined us and stayed behind when we went to Spain and worked very hard. He's looked sharp in training.

"He's a bit short of match practice, as a few of the new lads are, but we're delighted with the people we've brought in.''

Boro have signed six players this summer and spent nearly £10m in their quest for a first major trophy and a place in Europe.

But Anderson reckons they need two more new faces to challenge for a top-six spot.

He said: "We came off the training pitch the other day and one of the fans said: 'I've supported Boro a long time and I think this squad is the strongest you've had since you've been here.' Hopefully we can put it all together and finish in the top six.

"We've brought in six players and only let two go, so we must be stronger. We've got Boksic, Paul Okon, Christian Karembeu, Joseph-Desire Job, Noel Whelan and Mark Crossley.

"We were disappointed to finish 12th last season. We were ninth two years ago and we want to get a bit higher than that.

"We want to get into the top six and if we can sign a couple more players we've targeted , I think that's realistic.

"There are about eight or nine clubs on a par, chasing a place in Europe, and we're trying to bring in better players to bridge the gap and get into the top six on a regular basis.

"We want to qualify for Europe and maybe win a cup - that's what we came here to do.

"We're in a niche with clubs like Leicester, Tottenham and Aston Villa where, to get out of it, you've got to buy quality players.''

Frontman Whelan, signed from Coventry for £2m, will have to settle for a place on the bench against his old club.

"Noel's a bit short on fitness but he might play a part,'' said Anderson. "He might come off the bench and score!

"Coventry have sold Robbie Keane, but they've still got some good players like Carlton Palmer and Cedric Roussel, and they've signed Craig Bellamy from Norwich and David Thompson from Liverpool.

"We watched Bellamy, but he's had a bad inujry over the last year.''

Christian Ziege was yesterday still a Boro player - but nowhere to be seen.

The German star, who has activated a get-out clause in his contract, is hoping to join Liverpool, who have bid £5.5m.

"We've nothing to say about Ziege - we're just concentrating on the people we've got here,'' said Anderson.

"I would have loved him to have been in the squad because he's a quality player, but things change.'