MICHAEL REIZIGER has put a return to the international arena on hold.

The 31-year-old defender quit playing for his country shortly after his move to Teesside in the summer, so he could concentrate on giving his all for the Middlesbrough cause.

His last appearance for the Netherlands came in their 2-1 defeat - and subsequent exit - to hosts Portugal in Euro 2004.

A pre-season shoulder injury, aggravated in Middlesbrough's 5-3 defeat at Arsenal, meant adding to his 72 caps would have been impossible as he missed three months of the season.

But when Marco van Basten was installed as new boss of the national team after the European Championships, the Dutchman hinted that a return to the Holland squad would be a welcome one.

The former Barcelona full-back, however, has now changed his mind again on resurrecting his international career, for the time being at least, until he fights his way back to full fitness.

"It was always an honour for me to play for the national team, but at this moment I'm not thinking about a return," said Reiziger, who is currently playing through the pain barrier with a hairline fracture of a toe.

"Because I've had some injuries, now I'm trying to get fit. I think we'll talk at a later stage. But at this moment, I'm not talking about that.''

Reiziger's three-month injury absence opened the first-team door for the talented Tony McMahon.

The 18-year-old has since made 16 appearances since making his debut at Old Trafford against Manchester United in October.

Alan Hansen recently said on Match of the Day that the teenage full-back, who has yet to sign a new contract at the Riverside, could go on and play for England.

Reiziger added further weight to the former Liverpool defender's claims when he admitted Boro's young star could go all the way.

"Tony McMahon's development as a player this season has been very good, and he should keep on going forward," he added. "He can go very far in the game with his qualities and his mentality, and he will learn in every game he plays."

The similarities between the pair are unavoidable.

"They both broke into their respective first teams and played in European competition as teenagers. The Dutchman, however, believes it is hard to make comparisons.

"It is difficult to compare with me when I was his age," he commented.

"When I first played at right back for Ajax, I played against AC Milan in the Champions League final four days later.

"We also had a big squad and the competition was more telling than at Middlesbrough, but that is only logic.

"That is why we try to get more players here to be more competitive with each other to help and lift each other up."

Reiziger and McMahon both played in Boro's defensive horror show at Norwich last weekend, and look set to start in tomorrow's game at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Dutchman appeared as an emergency central defender in the game at East Anglia, while the young Englishman played in his familiar right back role.

Despite the Teessiders squandering a 4-1 lead at Carrow Road - and leaking three late goals in the process - the Dutch defender says a similar game is unlikely to happen again for years.

"When I was playing in the game against Norwich, I didn't have a feeling they would come back," he admitted.

"In the second half we were much stronger and I never had the feeling they were becoming dangerous. But they did and that is football.

"I think games like this happen once every three or four years."

* Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell has been given promises any manager would love to hear after meeting new chairman Ken Bates for the first time.

Bates has offered the 43-year-old his ''unequivocal support'' and categorically stated he is under no pressure and that there is no timescale to achieve success.

Blackwell has also been told players will now only be sold with the manager's approval.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.