MIDDLESBROUGH are to enlist the help of the Austrian FA in an attempt to get Emanuel Pogatetz's mammoth 24-week ban overturned.

Pogatetz, who was suspended for six months by the Russian FA following his recent dismissal for former club Spartak Moscow, was last night named in the Austrian squad for next week's friendly against Scotland.

Despite being ineligible for Boro's Premiership opener with Liverpool on Saturday, Pogatetz is free to line up for his country as his suspension only applies to domestic games.

So unless his ban is lifted, the 22-year-old's first appearance on English soil could come when Austria travel to Old Trafford for a World Cup qualifier on October 8.

Middlesbrough, who have made a series of pleas to the Russian FA, are understandably furious at the current impasse. Steve McClaren was told to expect news of a possible appeal on Monday but, for the third time in as many weeks, the Moscow authorities failed to get in touch.

The Teessiders are now ready to adopt a more direct approach and are hoping the Austrian FA will also protest to their Russian counterparts.

The Austrians are ready to pick Pogatetz for next Wednesday's friendly in Graz but would be unwilling to pitch him into the heat of a World Cup qualifier if he had not been playing regular football for his club.

While the Russian authorities have been unmoved by Middlesbrough's representations, they will find it much harder to turn a blind eye if they are approached directly by another national governing body.

Both Aiyegbeni Yakubu and Mark Viduka have been called up for international duty next week - along with Mark Schwarzer and Szilard Nemeth - but one of the strike duo looks likely to miss out on Saturday after McClaren's decision to hand Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink the number nine shirt.

Hasselbaink, whose 16 goals made him Boro's leading scorer by some distance last term, now seems certain to lead the line as the Teessiders look to hit the ground running against Liverpool.

The former Dutch international takes over from Massimo Maccarone in the coveted number nine jersey, underlining just how far the Italian has slipped in the pecking order.

Maccarone is unlikely to even make the bench on Saturday but, after scoring in Tuesday night's reserve-team game with Aston Villa, the 25-year-old has underlined his determination to force his way back into the first-team reckoning.

"I know there is much competition for places here," he said. "But we do a lot of work at this club and I will fight for my place.

"I am very happy to come back to Middlesbrough. I have a lot of friends in the dressing room and the fans have been great with me.

"I am still young and need games - if I ever get the chance to play here I will take it."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.