Boksic on way back for Boro

Middlesbrough striker Alen Boksic is close to a return from injury to increase manager Steve McClaren’s striking options.

The 32-year-old Croatian international missed Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Charlton with a bruised foot picked up during his country’s 2-0 defeat in Bulgaria last week, but returned to training today to boost his chances of lining up against Leeds United at the weekend.

Szilard Nemeth and Joseph Job were the men asked to support record signing Massimo Maccarone at the Valley, but Boksic had started the two Premiership games before being injured, the 3-0 win at Tottenham and the 2-0 defeat of Bolton at the Riverside Stadium.

Midfielder George Boateng is expected to resume training tomorrow after suffering a knock to his ankle against Charlton, while full-back Robbie Stockdale continues to receive treatment for a bruised heel, although he was able to go through his paces today.

However, the news is not so good for back-up keeper Mark Crossley, who has been unable to train because of a hamstring strain.

The defeat at Charlton ended a run of four successive wins for Boro, who are fifth in the Premiership table after an encouraging start to the season.

However, they face Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea in their next four league games, a run which may well have a greater say in where they finish the campaign than what has gone before.