BACK in February, when a Middlesbrough fan confronted manager Steve McClaren during a 4-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, striker Mark Viduka also had to contend with grief from disgruntled supporters.

As he made his way to his car Viduka had a heated exchange of words with a group who had criticised his performances during a disappointing mid-season.

After weeks of world-class displays which have cemented his place in the starting line-up, the Australian is an automatic choice as McClaren ponders his selection for tomorrow's UEFA Cup final.

Viduka, whose name has been chanted again and again by supporters during his return to form, has spoken of how he feels footballers have to contend with the fickle nature of those who pay good money to watch them play.

The 30-year-old has always been regarded in Britain, during spells with Celtic and Leeds before Boro, as a temperamental sort but feels the perception is wide of the mark.

"It was very much a mini confrontation with a supporter at that time and I don't really want to remember what was said," said Viduka. "People shout out a lot of things at footballers - you get it every day. So if somebody shouts out something at you, it is a normal thing.

"It is a massive, massive turnaround though since then. I think it is probably the boys' pride. A lot of people were unhappy at the time about bad results.

"We are proud people. We are professionals and take pride in our work. You would like to think people appreciate what you do. I think people's perception of me is misplaced. It goes right back to my time at Celtic. If it was my family who wrote an article about my character, I would understand it, because they know me.

"If somebody were to say I had a bad game, that is fine. But a lot of times people write things about me as a character when they haven't had two words with me apart from a brief interview."

What is certain is that since the defeat to Villa, and a couple of games spent on the sidelines through injury, he returned to the side against Stuttgart on February 23 and has got better and better ever since.

He scored the winner against Birmingham two games later and that marked the start of a run of eight goals in his last 12 games, sparking the suggestion he picked his form up for the big games.

"I wouldn't have a clue why things were so bad in February and so good now. For me personally, I have just been focused on my job, trying to enjoy myself and leaving all the other distractions aside. And it is paying off," he said.

"Definitely early in the season Middlesbrough weren't seeing me at my best but I can't put a finger on why it has changed. Confidence is a big thing.

"There are always distractions - if you have got an injury or aren't playing. Sometimes it gets to you. It was an unsettling period in January because there were a lot of people who were unhappy in the dressing room and it was a difficult place to be at that time.

"Nobody knew if they were going to be here the following week. I didn't want to go. Even if they wanted me to go, I have got a contract."

Now things couldn't be more different. Viduka is happy on Teesside, has no intention of leaving in the summer and is focused on scoring the goals that will help Middlesbrough win a European trophy for the first time in the club's history tomorrow night.

And Viduka, likely to start alongside Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink against Sevilla, predicts the Spanish Primera Liga outfit will see him at his best.

"I am settled here and changing clubs is not ideal going into a World Cup and having to get used to new players again," said Viduka.

"I am probably playing better than I did at Leeds. It is just experience. As you get older, you start to pick up things. Every day I'm learning something new in football. One day you think you have done quite well and then the next day surprises you.

"I am living a dream right now and am enjoying it. Hopefully it is about to get even better."

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