JIMMY-FLOYD Hasselbaink could be forgiven for having a sense of deja vu about last night's victory against Grazer AK at the Riverside Stadium - and for thinking his football career had finally come full circle.

Hasselbaink - as revealed in yesterday's Northern Echo SPORT - flopped at little known Austrian side Vienne when he was in his football infancy.

Given the illustrious career, which has followed the Middlesbrough striker, his early set back is hard to believe.

But now in the twilight of his career, he is 33 next month, the Dutchman blasted another goal to his tally against his Austrian opponents to progress through to the last 16 of the competition.

Steve McClaren's free signing from Chelsea has been outstanding for Boro this season and the catalyst in their assault on a Champions League place.

Hasselbaink offers much more than the goals already netted which propelled the Teessiders to the dizzy heights of sixth in the Premiership.

The Holland international leads the line in the tradition of an old fashioned centre forward, making goals as well as taking them, scoring direct from free-kicks and his moaning puts Victor Meldrew to shame - an important ingredient of any successful player.

See Roy Keane and Alan Shearer for further details.

Last night he revealed once more how important he is to the Boro's cause.

His first touch inside the first three minutes was a delight, killing a clipped ball forward dead on his knee, before a cushioned volley into Joseph Desire Job's path resulted in a free-kick in a threatening position.

Hasselbaink was indirectly involved in Boro's equaliser. His presence drew three players towards him before the ball was hacked wide to Stewart Downing, who hammered the ball goalwards only for James Morrison to thump home from close range.

Hasselbaink didn't enjoy the best of fortunes after that, but the proceedings weren't helped by McClaren's decision to play him up front alone after the break in a bid to kill the game.

But as old adage goes, form is temporary, class is permanent and Hasselbaink proved as much when he rolled Mario Tokic on the edge of the box after 61 minutes to blast through the legs of goalkeeper Andreas Schranz from Doriva's through ball to win the tie.

With Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Micheal Owen and Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Boro striker has been chosen in more Fantasy Football teams than any other striker in the Premiership since the introduction of the popular game nearly 10 years ago.

Why?

Simply because Hasselbaink is one of only five forwards guaranteed to get 20 goals a season.

Last night's strike was lucky 13 and it means he only has to add another seven goals to join the 20-goal club again.

With 11 Premiership games and at least another two UEFA Cup matches to go, you wouldn't back against him doing it.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.