STEVE McCLAREN has promised there will be no repeat of his Riverside rumble with David Moyes when Middlesbrough take on Everton tonight for a place in the last eight of the Carling Cup.

Boro boss McClaren and counterpart Moyes were involved in a furious touchline exchange, which almost came to blows when Everton lost 1-0 on Teesside in September.

McClaren confronted Moyes, claiming Everton had gone against the spirit of the game in failing to return the ball after Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer conceded a throw-in to allow Wayne Rooney to receive treatment.

The rival managers had to be pulled apart by police and stewards and Moyes later dismissed the notion that his side were guilty of unsporting conduct as "nonsense''.

But McClaren insists there will be no hard feelings when they meet up again. "I'll invite him into my office before the game for a cup of tea and we'll get the blows out of the way then,'' joked McClaren.

"It was a high-pressure game and tensions were running high late on. But I know David very well, we shook hands afterwards and there's no problem.''

England star Rooney's form has dipped so alarmingly as Everton have dropped into the Premiership's bottom three that Moyes may relegate him to the bench.

The teenage striker sulkily brushed past Moyes when he was substituted in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Bolton.

But Moyes maintained: "I took Tommy Gravesen off and nobody has asked me why I did that, so I find it strange when I take off an 18- year-old kid and get asked about it.

"I substitute people every week and I never get asked about that, and yes, he (Rooney) will be involved at Middlesbrough.''

McClaren insists Moyes cannot be faulted for the way he has handled the country's hottest young property.

"Rooney has great potential and, at the moment, David Moyes is handling him very well,'' said McClaren. "I'm surprised things aren't going well for Everton after they finished seventh last season, but they are a talented team. Any side managed by David Moyes will always compete and make it difficult for you.''

Boro's bid for a quarter-final spot is hampered by injuries to Juninho, Doriva and George Boateng.

Strikers Massimo Maccarone and Szilard Nemeth, and midfielder Jonathan Greening are on standby after McClaren claimed he was "down to the bare bones'' and even considering either Ugo Ehiogu or fellow defender Stuart Parnaby - both yet to play competitively since suffering cruciate injuries - for a place on the bench.

"We have a few niggles,'' said McClaren. "Doriva has a nasty ankle injury apart from the head cut he sustained at Manchester City on Sunday.

"Juninho has a tight hamstring and we'll see if Boateng, who also got a bang on the head on Sunday, suffers any reaction after training.

"I've brought Ehiogu and Parnaby back into the fold because of the injuries and one of them might be on the bench. They're not quite ready, but needs must.

"It's an opportunity for the likes of Maccarone, Greening, Chris Riggott and Szilard Nemeth, who haven't started of late.''

But McClaren's problems pale in comparison with those of Moyes, who is without Kevin Campbell, Duncan Ferguson, Steve Watson, David Weir, Alessandro Pistone and Scot Gemmill, and has a doubt over Joseph Yobo with a neck injury.

Francis Jeffers is standing by to replace Rooney alongside Tomasz Radzinski and make only his second Everton start since his return on loan from Arsenal in the summer.

Former Newcastle full-back Pistone has returned to Italy for more consultations about his hernia and could face another operation.

McClaren took time to dispel suggestions that he is a negative manager by pointing to Boro's record in League and Cup in the last 11 games, a sequence that started with the victory over Everton.

Boro needed an own goal to beat Man City in a game in which the home side enjoyed overwhelming superiority.

But McClaren argued: "We're in good form. We had a great win on Sunday, but it wasn't a good performance and we're the first to admit that.

"But we've only lost two of the last 11 games, and in the process conceded four and scored 11, so the goal difference is plus seven.''

Meanwhile, McClaren has left no doubt that he is ready to challenge Tottenham in any battle to sign Danny Mills.

The Leeds and England right-back is on loan with Boro until the end of the season, but Spurs see him as a potential replacement for Stephen Carr, who is out of contract next summer and a target for Newcastle.

McClaren said: "I would have signed Danny permanently if we'd had enough time before the deadline. If there's an opportunity to do a deal with Leeds, I would sign him tomorrow if I could.

"We have some great warriors here and Danny is one of them. At half-time on Sunday he and Gareth Southgate and Colin Cooper really led the team. When players do that, rather than the manager or the coaches, then you're really on to something in terms of character."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.