GEORGE Boateng claims a “lack of experience” could cost Middlesbrough their place in the Premier League.

Boateng was controversially released from the Riverside last summer, along with fellow internationals Mark Schwarzer, Fabio Rochemback and Luke Young, as Boro opted to trim their wage bill by axing a number of elder statesmen.

The likes of Marvin Emnes and Justin Hoyte arrived in their wake, reducing the weekly out-goings, but also robbing Boro of an experienced core that might have proved crucial during their ongoing battle against the drop.

Boateng will make his first return to the Riverside this afternoon with his Hull teammates and is likely to be named on the substitutes’ bench following a threemonth lay-off because of a knee injury.

And while the Holland international accepts that much of last summer’s decision- making was taken out of manager Gareth Southgate’s hands, he feels Boro are paying the price for their costcutting initiative.

“They changed a lot of things and maybe some of it was done too quickly,” said Boateng, who made 223 appearances for Middlesbrough after a £5m move from Aston Villa in August 2002.

“That is not a criticism of the manager, Gareth Southgate, because I don’t think he had a choice.

“But the thing is, they are now struggling and they have not got the experience to get out of trouble.

“It has been a tough season for them and I do think they have missed the experience of players like Mark Schwarzer, myself, Fabio Rochemback and players like that.

“You cannot buy experience in this league. It is a shame because Boro is a great club and I had a fantastic time there, I really did. I enjoyed myself a lot and I won the Carling Cup there, which meant a lot to me, the supporters and the chairman.”

In particular, Boateng identifies a lack of leadership as a key factor behind Middlesbrough’s slide to 19th position in the Premier League table.

The 33-year-old captained the club with distinction following Gareth Southgate’s move into management, and while the likes of Julio Arca, Stewart Downing and now Emanuel Pogatetz have followed in his footsteps, none have commanded the same authority that Boateng exuded when he wore the armband.

The Dutchman had experienced players around him, of course, and while Boro’s youthful approach has paid dividends in some areas this season, it has come with significant strings attached.

“Middlesbrough have an incredible set of young players, but that is not enough in a tough, demanding league like the Premier League,” said Boateng. “You need youth and you need experience, not one or the other.

“I think they have gone too far the other way this season and that has cost them. I don’t know whether that was because of economics or whatever – that’s none of my business – but that is my opinion. There was too much change in too short a period.

“I think at times this season they have had a very young side and that can be good, but it can also cause problems. When things are going right, everything is fine, but when things go wrong you need players, older players, to put it right.

You cannot rely on youngsters to do that.”

Nevertheless, Boateng hopes his former club pull clear of the relegation zone in the final seven games of the season, although not at the expense of his current employers, who currently stand on the 34-point mark.

“Will Boro go down? I don’t know, but I hope not,” he said. “I hope Hull City and Boro both stay up. There is still a long way to go, and both clubs have a lot of fighting spirit.

“I have brilliant memories of Boro, but I have to think about Hull now. Hull has been great for me and, apart from the injury, it has been an amazing experience.

“Now I have to help finish it off because many people thought we would go down this season and all the players and coaches and manager want to prove them wrong.

That would be a success for us and a starting point from which to grow and get better.

We need to stay up to lay some foundations.”