TONY MOWBRAY has challenged Marvin Emnes to prove he can lead the line for Middlesbrough amid fears that leading goalscorer Leroy Lita will miss the majority of the ten-match relegation run-in.

Ten-goal Lita was forced off with a hamstring problem with 23 minutes remaining of Saturday's goalless draw at Portsmouth, leaving Boro with just Scott McDonald and Emnes as striking options.

Mowbray has not ruled out moving into the loan market, but is adamant that Kris Boyd would not be recalled early from Nottingham Forest, where he is staying until the end of the season.

The Middlesbrough manager said: "Leroy has never had a hamstring injury in his career. He doesn't know how bad it is. But from my experience, a hamstring injury means he will be out for between four and six weeks.

"We can't recall Kris for 28 days anyway. But there are financial issues there as well. It's something I will sit down and talk about with my coaches but there's no immediate plans to bring anyone in either."

With Lee Miller also on loan at Scunthorpe and Luke Williams sidelined through injury, McDonald and Emnes are his only two options to play through the middle.

He could opt to field a three-man attack, with the likes of Tarmo Kink, Andy Halliday and Merouane Zemmama all available to provide the supply to a central striker.

But Mowbray has hinted he will turn to Emnes when Watford travel to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

"I'm not concerned about it. We have to pick a team for the next game," said the Boro boss. "Marvin is a different type of player to Leroy. The ball retention in the team is better with him in it.

"At times our strikers aren't happy if they don't score so they can be more selfish. But Marvin allows our team to be more composed. If it is Marvin next week, he can allow us to keep the tempo.

"The more options the better. But it is unfortunate for Leroy, he has been doing pretty well for us in the last few weeks, scoring goals."