McClaren keen to keep Hasselbaink

Middlesborough 2 West Ham United 0

Hasselbaink, whose deal expires in the summer, scored his 17th goal of the campaign and his 13th in 19 appearances since the turn of the year to spark a 2-0 home win over West Ham.

A fortnight ago the Dutchman revealed that no-one from Boro had approached him about signing a new contract, and it seemed his days were numbered.

But given his scoring spree of late, McClaren said: "Most definitely we will be sitting down with Jimmy at the end of the season, whatever happens.

"He is a fantastic pro who has done really well for this club over the last two years. When he is out on the training pitch he works as hard as anybody, and he is very disappointed when he doesn't play in games.

"There was disappointment he wasn't playing in December, but he kept going and he is getting his rewards. I hope he is rewarded at the end of the season with something to show for what he has done."

McClaren likened the striker to a star he worked with at Manchester United Roy Keane.

"Jimmy is a winner. He is like Roy Keane. He just wants to win, be it five-a-sides or anything. They don't think about the future. They just want to win every game and in every situation."

Hasselbaink's opener came four minutes before the break, with Massimo Maccarone on target from the penalty spot in the 57th minute to complete the win.

With the two sides set to play again on Sunday in the FA Cup semi-final, Boro's line-up was hardly their first-choice one.

That game sandwiches a two-legged UEFA Cup semi-final against Steaua Bucharest, so at least in terms of confidence, the victory was vital.

McClaren said: "It was important to win today, and now we move into the biggest week in the club's history. What an opportunity we have. This is why we are in football, because these kind of weeks don't come along often in your career."

West Ham boss Alan Pardew insists Boro are favourites following a defeat that left him bitterly disappointed.

"You have to say that looking at their squad and the players they left out that they are very much the favourites.

"Although we didn't have our full-strength team out, we know we cannot go into Sunday's game as anything other than underdogs. We have got it all to do if we are going to win, but we know we can do it because we proved it this season with some big wins."

OPTA FACT: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has scored 11 goals in 10 starts against West Ham in the Premiership

OPTA FACT: West Ham have not kept an away clean sheet since their first away game of the season a run of 17 games

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Bates, Riggott, Wheater, Queudrue, Maccarone, Doriva, Parlour, Johnson (Taylor 76), Hasselbaink (Kennedy 72), Viduka (Christie 45).

WEST HAM: Hislop, Konchesky, Gabbidon, Collins, Scaloni (Fletcher 66), Newton, Reo-Coker, Mullins, Katan (Zamora 66), Sheringham, Harewood (Ashton 66).

Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).