AIYEGBENI Yakubu has told his fellow Middlesbrough strikers to get used to warming the substitutes' bench, because he is determined to prove himself as the club's undisputed number one.

While he was unable to add to his impressive goalscoing tally at Chelsea, the Nigeria international still boasts six goals in his last eight Premiership outings.

That is more than Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka can boast in the whole of the season combined and, while Steve McClaren continues to mix and match his forwards on a regular basis, Yakubu has missed just one league game all term.

That is unlikely to change when the Teessiders visit Liverpool this weekend, with the 23-year-old's senior status assured following another spirited showing at Stamford Bridge.

Both Hasselbaink and Viduka have spoken of their unhappiness at their limited opportunities this season but, according to Yakubu, it is a situation they are going to have to learn to accept.

"I want to be Middlesbrough's number one striker, but I know that is not going to be easy," said the African, who is second only to Thierry Henry when it comes to Premiership goals in the last two years.

"The manager is putting his faith in me and that's obviously very pleasing. When you are playing every week, it gives you a lot of confidence in your game.

"I feel like I am getting better and better and I think my goalscoring record is proving that. Nobody wants to miss four or five games but, with the squad that we have, that is the reality of football. No player wants to sit on the bench but, sometimes, you have to rest."

Yakubu has overshadowed his fellow frontmen this term, but he insists that playing alongside them is improving his game.

The muscular goalscorer proved his ability by scoring 36 goals in just 73 starts for a Portsmouth side that was struggling to keep its head above water in the Premiership.

That earned him a move to the Riverside and, despite his past achievements, he feels the effects of the switch are already clear to see.

"The competition is intense," said Yakubu.

"Jimmy and Mark are two of the best strikers in the Premiership and everyone knows they will score goals.

"I have enjoyed working with them in training and I have enjoyed playing with them in games. They are already helping to make me a better striker.

"They are ready to give it their best whenever they are called upon and I know I have to work as hard as I can to keep my place in the side."

That work ethic was in evidence at Chelsea, with Yakubu's battling qualities and barnstorming approach causing plenty of problems for both Ricardo Carvalho and John Terry.

"John Terry is one of the best defenders in the world but, at the very least, I thought I made him work hard," he added.

"When you play against someone like that, it can sometimes help to raise your performance. I thought both me and Jimmy caused Chelsea problems, but it doesn't really count for a lot if you don't score a goal.

"I have scored a lot of goals recently and that's obviously been pleasing. It is always hard at first when you move to a new club, but I really feel happy here at Middlesbrough and I think my settling in period is over.

"I'm pleased with my form, but I'm not going to get carried away. As a striker, you are only one game away from a change in your form."

The same is true of a football club and, while Boro have been carrying all before them in both the UEFA and Carling Cups, their league form has been much more patchy.

Saturday's reverse made it three away defeats in a row, but Yakubu insists there is still time to mount a surge up the Premiership table.

"I think we are all a bit disappointed that we are not higher up in the league," he admitted. "Our performances have generally been good, but we have thrown one or two points away.

"That wasn't the case at Chelsea - we did everything we could - but there are some big games coming up and we need to be focused. At the end of the season, they could decide how we are judged."