STEVE McClaren last night threw down the gauntlet to his rising stars of the future.

The Middlesbrough boss believes his up-and-coming starlets shouldn't be content with academy and reserve team football. He feels they should be knocking on the first team door and implored them to follow in the footsteps of Stewart Downing.

"We need more creativity and we're still pursuing one or two targets but, we had a meeting with the younger players recently and told them they shouldn't just be happy with what they achieved last season," revealed McClaren.

"They need to take that extra step. Make the necessary improvement and push for the first team, and to be involved.

"Stewart Downing proved last season it can be done. James Morrison has a chance, Matthew Bates did well in pre-season and young Adam Johnson is another.

"We played 52 games last season, and we're looking at playing more this time around, to stay in the competitions a little longer. We need a lot of players.

"We have achieved competition for places in the striking department. We have a few to choose from there and they'll need to be patient. But that's good to have and we need it elsewhere in the squad."

McClaren's squad has been boosted after a new twist in the tale of Emanuel Pogatetz's ban.

The Boro defender could be in line to make his debut for the club in Saturday's Premiership clash at Tottenham.

Reports from Russia last night suggest the 22-year-old Austrian has had his punishment for breaking Shinnik Yaroslavl midfielder Yaroslav Kharitonsky's leg - while on loan at Spartak Moscow - reduced to eight games rather than six months.

Spartak Moscow have since played eight games since the ban was imposed and if that is the case it would leave Pogatetz free to play at White Hart Lane on Saturday

Boro insist they have received no confirmation of any decision from the Football Union of Russia.

l Boro are giving former Liverpool and Everton full back Abel Xavier a chance to win a contract at the Riverside. The 32-year-old defender, released by Roma at the end of last season, is on trial.