NOT since Bolo Zenden's departure to Liverpool have Middlesbrough had a player to bridge the gap between midfield and attack. Julio Arca, however, insists he is ready to do that job.

Arca arrived in England six years ago desperate to prove himself as a left-back.

But at Sunderland, despite his protestations, Peter Reid and Mick McCarthy thought his best position was on the leftwing and, after a disappointing debut at Reading with Middlesbrough in August, Gareth Southgate has played him in the same role.

Stewart Downing's return to fitness means Arca is likely to be back on the bench today with Andrew Taylor performing so well in defence.

There is, though, one option.

He could test Arca, a skiful South American with an eye for a goal and a pass, as an attacking central midfielder - a position Zenden made his own at the Riverside Stadium before leaving 18 months ago.

"If I had to play there then I would be happy to do so," said Arca, after Fabio Rochemback, Stewart Downing, Jason Euell and Gaizka Mendieta have all been tried there. "I'm the kind who always likes to be involved as much as I can.

"There are many midfielders at the club, but it's up to the manager. It could be a new challenge for me and I would be happy to try."

Whether his opportunity arrives today remains to be seen and, after four disappointing displays in a Boro shirt, Southgate will be hoping for marked improvement.

Arca, part of a poor Sunderland side for four years, admitted: "The Premiership is a lot different from the Championship.

You play with better quality players and you can learn from them.

"I'm 25 and there are things the other lads can help me improve on in training.

"The people here are very friendly and I was really happy when Middlesbrough were interested in me. I wanted to try a new challenge and I hope things go well. It was me who decided to take this challenge.

"I knew that was going to be difficult to keep my place here, but I have to work hard and show what I've got. It's good to work with this quality of players.

When you don't play you are disappointed, but it's up to me to work hard to get my place back. I played a lot of games for Sunderland, but we didn't have as many players to fight for our position."

Against Aston Villa today he will come up against two men who he became good friends with during his time at Sunderland before they were sold following the Black Cats' disatrous season in 2003.

"I heard Martin O'Neill say that Gavin McCann is one of the best players he has at the moment," said Arca. "Gavin is a strong and tough guy, he likes a tackle and is a good passer of the ball.

"He's worked hard and I think he is the soul of the team.

He's the one who will get the ball back and work harder than anyone.

"Tommy Sorensen is a good keeper and he has been doing very well for Villa. He has kept them alive in some of the games with some great saves and has won many points for his team.

"It will be a tough game, but we are looking forward to going there and picking up three points if possible.

"I think since O'Neill went there he has changed things around. If you said we would take four points from the last two games against West Ham and Liverpool then we would have taken it.

"We were happy with a point against Liverpool. We kept a clean sheet and now we are looking forward to the Aston Villa game."