McClaren left with plenty to ponder

Steve McClaren is short on left-wing options as Middlesbrough visit Barclays Premiership bottom side Everton tomorrow.

Boro travel to Goodison Park for the Carling Cup third round tie trying to find some consistency in their pattern and performances.

The departure of Bolo Zenden to Liverpool and the long-term knee injury to Stewart Downing have effectively wiped out McClaren’s left flank.

Despite having used five different players on the left, McClaren is yet to find the answer.

“We have lost only two games in the last eight, but we have not yet achieved the consistency we are looking for,” said McClaren.

“We have struggled to find the right shape for the team since Stewart Downing was hurt.

“We’ve tried a few players there, including 18-year-old Adam Johnson, who is one for the future.

“We are fortunate that we signed Emanuel Pogatetz in the summer because he has dropped in at left-back and we have been able to push Franck Queudrue forward on to the left of midfield.

“He has been one of our best options because he is strong in the position.

“But everything has not yet fallen into shape, and the game at Everton gives us another chance to get it right.”

Queudrue is favourite to play in the role tomorrow, though Brazilian newcomer Fabio Rochemback played there at West Ham on Sunday, when Boro were beaten 2-1.

They lost as a result of a controversial ’own goal’ by Chris Riggott when TV replays showed the ball had not crossed the line.

This led to McClaren calling for technology to be introduced to solve future arguments.

The Boro boss added: “The incident left the players fuming in the dressing room after the game.

“They knew they had not lost because we scored one goal and West Ham scored one goal.

“But we’ve had two excellent days in training and now we are ready to get back into action again.

“The one thing I want to see tomorrow is our normal enthusiasm channelled into the right direction.

“We need to play well as a team and stop doing the things which are alien to us. We must be patient, we must play to a plan, and we must do it all together.”

Boro have been beaten just twice away from home in all competitions this season, including the Upton Park reverse, and going to Goodison should hold no fears.

But McClaren, who expects a hard game after Everton’s 1-1 draw at home to leaders Chelsea on Sunday, said: “Everton have been struggling this season, but it takes only one result to get things into gear, and maybe that has happened for them against Chelsea on Sunday.

“So we will regard it as a tough game, as they always are at Goodison Park, but at the same time we will go there with confidence.

“Our target this season is to get into Europe again. Last season we did it over 38 games, but the Carling Cup offers you the opportunity to do it over only six.

“It’s a less daunting proposition and tomorrow night’s game is the first of the six.

“We also know from experience, having won it two years ago, that the Carling Cup is a marvellous journey across the way.

“The final was a wonderful experience for everybody at this club and if we win at Everton, which we will set out to do, then it’s the first step towards bringing about a repeat.”

McClaren has been boosted by Stuart Parnaby’s return to full training. The right-back has recovered from a groin strain and will replace 18-year-old Matthew Bates, who did a fine job as deputy at West Ham.

Boro will miss influential skipper Gareth Southgate, however, and McClaren is expected to pitch in Ugo Ehiogu as his replacement at Goodison.

Ehiogu came through 70 minutes of a reserve game at Manchester United last week and is fully fit again following a groin injury.