McClaren is down seven star names

MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren arrived in Ostrava with a squad ravaged by injury which threatens to wreck the club’s European dream.

McClaren is without seven star names, including four of his five summer signings, for tonight’s second leg of the UEFA Cup first-round tie against Banik Ostrava at the Bazaly Stadium.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Joseph-Desire Job (both hamstring), Mark Viduka (back), Ray Parlour (knee), Chris Riggott (thigh), Ugo Ehiogu (calf) and Michael Reiziger (shoulder) were all absent when the squad flew out today.

It led to McClaren naming seven teenagers in the travelling party, six of whom were members of last season’s FA Youth Cup-winning squad, and only one of those, James Morrison, with any Premiership football under his belt - and that on Saturday as he made his debut in the 1-0 Riverside defeat to Chelsea.

McClaren also included Malcolm Christie, who has scored three goals in five reserve matches recently in continuing his recovery from a broken leg sustained in training 11 months ago.

At least McClaren has been able to welcome back Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta after a four-match absence with a calf injury, along with Slovakian striker Szilard Nemeth, who missed the game against Chelsea due to a stomach upset.

Given his problems, and with Boro holding a commanding 3-0 lead, it would be easy for McClaren to name a defensive line-up, but that will be far from the case as he is eager to put the tie beyond the reach of the reigning Czech champions.

“We have to play our normal game,” insisted McClaren. “It would be very dangerous to sit back.

“We know Banik have to come forward and take risks, so on the counter attack we have to be very positive, and if we score it means they have to score five.”