WITH Middlesbrough languishing at the wrong end of the Premiership table, manager Gareth Southgate has reassured frustrated supporters the signs for a brighter new year are promising.

Boro need three points from today's visit of relegation candidates Charlton Athletic if Southgate's men are to be sure of spending Christmas Day outside the drop zone.

And, after winning just one of their last ten games, there is no certainty a vital victory will be forthcoming against the Addicks.

But Southgate, choosing to reflect on three draws gained in the last six games rather than three defeats, feels Boro are looking dangerous again following the return to fitness of Mark Viduka. And, with the return of Jonathan Woodgate to the defence this afternoon, he feels a win is not too far around the corner, with hopes centered on it arriving today.

"There have been signs of encouragement," said Southgate. "It is easy to bluff your way through things but the Wigan second-half performance was good. The attacking performance against Fulham was also better, we created more chances than in any away game.

"A month ago we had three clean sheets in a short space of time. We just have to put the two together. We are being thrown everything to deal with at the moment, like injuries.

"The commitment from the players suggests everyone is pulling together and the performance suggested that to me at Fulham on Monday (when they lost 2-1). They want to get up the table as much as me. If there was an issue about that I would make changes. Commitment here is not an issue. We have to get the quality right."

But Southgate, reflecting on Charlton's inability away from home - they have taken only one point from a possible 27 on their travels - is not taking anything for granted against Les Reed's side.

"You don't take anything lightly but we need to win the game," he said. "We have to take maximum advantage from it. We have Blackburn, Sheffield United and Charlton all in and around where we are in the league and we want to climb up the table.

"The next few games can have a massive impact on our season. We are lower than I hoped but I am not shocked to be in the bottom half. There has been a lot of change. We were 14th last season and lost some experienced players in the summer. There was always going to be a rebound from that."

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who did not have his contract renewed in the summer by Southgate, is hoping to be asked to partner Darren Bent for Charlton today.

Southgate is full of admiration for a striker who scored 34 goals during his two years on Teesside, helping Middlesbrough to a UEFA Cup final in May along the way.

"It was hard letting him go," said Southgate.

"He was a good, strong character in the dressing room. I felt at the time he might not get the football he wanted. At the moment it has not gone as well as he hoped at Charlton but that will turn for him."