TONY Mowbray is poised to add Bartholomew Ogbeche to his attacking ranks later today, but the Middlesbrough manager remains confident misfiring striker Scott McDonald will rediscover his goalscoring form soon.

Ogbeche, a 26-year-old striker who has represented Nigeria at full international level, spent last week training at Rockliffe Park and impressed in a development game with Blackburn.

He is a free agent having been released by Greek side Kavala in the summer, and Mowbray is ready to offer a short-term deal in an attempt to bolster his side's firepower.

Indeed, if Ogbeche's international registration can be arranged in time, the former Paris St Germain, Alaves and Valladolid forward could even be included in the squad that travels to Nottingham Forest tomorrow.

A lack of attacking threat was apparent in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Millwall, a game that means Boro have now scored just two goals in their last five league outings.

McDonald has not scored since the 3-1 win at Barnsley on August 16, but having watched the Australian hit the woodwork in the second half of this weekend's game, Mowbray is confident it will not be long before he regularly starts finding the net again.

"Sometimes strikers go through spells like this," said the Boro boss. "He's a bit frustrated but I think he knows that his work and effort is appreciated. He's the sort of boy who can get uptight about it, but the message is to relax.

"Earlier on in the season he was making goals for (Marvin) Emnes and we need him to continue to do that. We don't want him to be snatching at things. That's the message, but he's scoring goals regularly in training.

"He's got nothing to worry about. He probably just needs a cross to come in, a defender to miss it, and leave him with a tap in. Then once one goes in, I'm sure he'll be off on a run."

Barry Robson played alongside McDonald at Celtic, and watched his team-mate score against the likes of Rangers, AC Milan and Manchester United.

Having made his way onto the scoresheet himself at the weekend, he is equally certain that McDonald will not be extending his goal drought much longer.

"It's not happening for Scott at the moment but no one's worried about that," said Robson. "He started the season terrifically well, making chances for everyone else, and knowing him like I do, I know that once he gets one, he'll be back scoring regularly.

"We're looking forward to getting him among the goals again. I've absolutely no doubt that he'll score plenty for us, after all, he's scored goals at the very highest level.

"He's scored against top opposition in the Champions League, so the Championship is certainly not going to faze him."