AFTER spending years with the world's best striker at Arsenal, people are forced to take notice when Ray Parlour pays tribute to Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink's sensational form at Middlesbrough.

Not since the days of Fabrizio Ravaneilli have Boro had it so good in front of goal and, unlike the £7m white-haired Italian, Hasselbaink arrived on a remarkable free transfer.

The Dutchman's second half hat-trick at Blackburn on Saturday was the first time a Boro player has grabbed three goals since Marco Branca achieved the feat in a 4-0 success over Bury six years ago.

Hasselbaink has now scored six Premiership goals since moving to the Riverside and is just two behind leading scorer Thierry Henry in the goalscoring charts.

Parlour, who moved from London to Teesside on a free transfer in the summer, witnessed Henry's irreplaceable and precious talent at first hand at Highbury after the Frenchman arrived for £10.5m from Juventus in 1999.

The Middlesbrough midfielder expects the former Juventus star to claim the Golden Boot for another season but warned his old teammate to beware the threat of Hasselbaink - enjoying a new lease of life knowing he is guaranteed a first team shirt under Steve McClaren.

"If you look at the players in the Premiership Jimmy is one of the great goalscorers," said Parlour. "Jose Antonio Reyes has done great this season at Arsenal and Henry is going to score every week, but Jimmy will be up there as will Ruud van Nistelrooy. The bookies have got it right and the favourite is Thierry.

"But if Jimmy keeps scoring I don't see why he can't push him all the way. He's got the most powerful shot I've ever seen.

"People look to Thierry now and think he's the best around. If you score more than him you will have done well.

"It'll be very interesting to see who does get the Golden Boot. They are both brilliant players. I've played with a lot and Jimmy is up there with the best of them."

Drawing on his experiences at Arsenal for over a decade - having played with wingers in the Robert Pires and Marc Overmars mould - Parlour is also well positioned to talk up the chances of Stewart Downing enjoying a successful career.

Despite being just 19, there are calls from Downing to retain his place on the left wing after a string of first class displays for McClaren's men - the latest of which was the 4-0 win at Blackburn.

And Parlour believes the local product will eventually make the step up to the England senior squad and end Sven-Goran Eriksson's search for a left-sided midfielder.

"He is an out an out winger. He can pass the ball, shoot with both feet and is a massive threat to teams," said Parlour.

"This is a big season for him and he's started well. He will be a good player for England in the future.

"He's in the Under-21s and being nurtured through, it's about getting that consistency in the under-21s that will help him to step up.

"When Stewart gets the chance he has to take it, like he is doing. He will be a great player for the future and this club is very lucky to have him.

"He has to keep performing and there will be people looking at him from the England set up. He shouldn't be even thinking about it. It will come when he's ready.

"He will be involved in a few squads first, without playing, but the only advice I can give him is to keep playing the same way he is for Middlesbrough. People will be watching and he will get noticed."

Boro are hoping to have striker Mark Viduka available for the match in Greece on Thursday against Egaleo.

Viduka is still struggling with a hamstring and back problem but McClaren claims the former Leeds front-man, who has five goals himself this season, will be back for either the trip to Athens or Sunday's home match with Portsmouth.

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