RAY Parlour may be none too keen to be considered a veteran just yet, but the 33-year-old is happy to act as a father figure to Middlesbrough's latest crop of young talent.

Despite losing 2-1 at Charlton on Sunday, the performances of 18-year-old Adam Johnson and 19-year-old Andrew Taylor impressed both manager Steve McClaren and Parlour.

With Lee Cattermole also breaking through this term, Parlour is well aware the pressure is on players like himself to keep the youngsters out of the side.

"I thought the kids who came in did great," said Parlour, who was making his first start since turning his ankle in the 3-2 home defeat to Wigan in January.

"We've got great youngsters and they've got very bright futures. Adam Johnson is a great little player. He's very fast and he's a nightmare to defend against.

"He's a tricky winger and he'll run at you all day. There's not many right-backs would like to mark him every week.

"He was up against an England full-back and he skinned him really. He's got a great future.

"Lee Cattermole has also done well so far and I've got no problems with him coming back in because he's been great this season.

"I always give Lee advice when he asks me and I'm happy to do that. I'll always try and help him.

"I'm here to give advice and it's great to see the youngsters coming through. They're all local boys as well, which is even better, and Lee deserves to play."

As a youngster at the Gunners, Parlour admitted he was regularly banging on George Graham's door telling him he should be playing.

And that is one piece of advice he's happy to pass on to Cattermole, who turns 18 a week tomorrow.

Parlour said: "Without doubt Lee deserves to play. I've got no questions if I'm on the bench because that's the way it goes with football.

"I'm sure George Boateng and young Lee will be back in for the Roma match.

"I'm sure that's the wise move at the moment because they both did so well against Roma last week.

"I've got no problem with that because it's great to see Lee Cattermole doing so well.

"When I was at Arsenal coming through and I thought I deserved to play then I'd go and knock on the manager's office and tell him."

Parlour was making only his tenth start of the campaign and admitted he probably came back a little too early from the knee injury that ruled him out from September to January.

"It's all about fitness now and getting a few games under my belt," said Parlour. "If that means playing for the reserves a few more times then great.

"I came back from my knee injury and then went over on my ankle against Wigan.

"It was a bit disappointing and I probably rushed back a little bit."

Meanwhile, striker Mark Viduka is hoping for a repeat of the 1-0 win he enjoyed at Rome's Stadio Olimpico back in September 2000.

The 30-year-old was in the Leeds side who turned over Lazio in the Italian capital during their run to the Champions League semi-final that season.

"That was a great night and one I will remember for a very long time," said the striker, who set up the winner for Alan Smith that night and showed all his qualities with a superb volleyed goal at The Valley on Sunday.

"Now it's time to do the same again - create history. The UEFA Cup is what we focus on. It's a huge game in Rome and it's all to play for."

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