STAND-IN strikers Joseph Job and Szilard Nemeth have been urged to produce the little bit of magic that will help Middlesbrough record one of their 'greatest ever victories'.

With the first-choice front pairing of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka both sidelined through injury, manager Steve McClaren is having to put all his faith in the unsettled back-up partnership tonight.

Both Cameroon man Job and Slovakian Nemeth have voiced frustrations in the past week over their failure to command a regular place in the Boro starting line-up.

But the duo have a chance to force their way into McClaren's plans over the next few weeks and their bid to impress starts in Portugal this evening, as the Teessiders aim to claw themselves back from 3-2 down against Sporting Lisbon.

It was Job's incredible acrobatics seven days ago, with Boro trailing 3-0 in the first leg, that sparked a spirited late fightback from the Premiership outfit at the Riverside Stadium.

However, McClaren's side still need two goals without reply at least tonight to give themselves a glimmer of hope in their attempt to keep Boro's Euro dreams alive in the UEFA Cup and progress to the last eight of the competition.

McClaren, likely to start with young forward Danny Graham on the bench, said: "At separate times Joseph and Szilard have both shown what they can do and produced for us. We need them both to produce on Thursday night. Joseph showed us last week what he is capable of.

"They are both internationals and they will both love to play on this stage. It's a fantastic stadium and I'm sure all of my players want to perform. We need as much experience as we can get on the park and they are two who have that experience."

Scans Hasselbaink had on the knee injury he picked up in training on Monday have revealed he will also miss Sunday's crucial home league fixture with Southampton.

Despite initial fears that the Dutchman could be out for over six weeks, the club hope their top-scorer may make a quick return after the international break - possibly the trip to Crystal Palace on April 2.

McClaren, although feeling an element of relief, admits being without Hasselbaink in the Esdadio Jose Alvalade tonight is a crushing blow.

"Jimmy has been fantastic. He has played over 40 games for us and he's not wanted to rest, he wanted to play and he has had a knee injury for a couple of weeks. He aggravated that in training and he wanted to come out and play here," said McClaren.

"The injury is not as bad as first thought. Over the international break it will clear up."

McClaren is hoping Boro come from behind and earn an incredible aggregate success in the beautiful Portuguese capital.

The manager's wish could be aided by the fact that Sporting have been better away from home this season.

Sporting's only defeat in the UEFA Cup this campaign came at the Alvalade, when Sochaux won 1-0 in a Group fixture, while they also lost against league minnows Penafiel on Sunday.

McClaren, refusing to be downbeat even without so many of his players, said: "Things happen for a reason in life and we got two goals that have given us hope when we looked down and out in the first leg.

"We wouldn't be here if it was mission impossible.

"Fate dealt us those two goals and hopefully fate will deal us a special performance that will see us go through.

"It will be one of the biggest results in the club's history and we need people to step forward and give us that special display to put us through."

Ray Parlour (back) and Michael Reiziger (ill) have not travelled and Boro's low body count is such that their bench is likely to be packed full of teenagers this evening.

As well as Graham, midfielder Adam Johnson and defenders David Wheater and Andrew Taylor are likely to be among those warming the bench alongside 38-year-old defender Colin Cooper.

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