Greening willing to do Juninho's dirty work

Greening was Boro's match-winner with a stunning strike in goalkeeper Simon Tracey's testimonial at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

But, once again, it was Juninho who ran the show with his energy and ingenuity.

The Brazilian opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a cleverly curled free-kick which Tracey could only help into the roof of the net.

It was a reprise of his performance in the same neck of the woods at Rotherham three days earlier when he scored first from a similar set-piece.

Almost a year after his career was on the line when he tore his anterior cruciate knee ligament in a low-key pre-season game in Italy, Juninho is nearing his peak in form and fitness.

But Greening, who played a holding role in midfield alongside Brazilian Doriva, admits that sacrifices have to be made to allow Juninho his licence to thrill.

Greening said: "It's hard when you have a player like Juninho, who likes a free role.

"Obviously he's a fantastic, world-class player, but sometimes it's frustrating because he plays in the hole and you have to do the dirty work.

"That restricts your own game a bit, but you don't mind that for the sake of the team.

"Juninho has played in the World Cup and has all the experience. He's a great player and he still works very hard for the team. Since he's come back from injury, he's helped me and everybody else on the pitch.

"He has the gift of playing the final ball through and skipping past people. He's looking very sharp with his linking up and running at defenders and he's scored two great free-kicks.

"We missed him when he was out last season and when he came back we played some really good football.

"In the last three games we've played some good football with him in the team because he always wants the ball, even if he makes mistakes, and that's what we all like about him.''

Boro extended their lead against Neil Warnock's Blades when Malcolm Christie capitalised on defender Chris Morgan's slip to set up the unmarked Szilard Nemeth for a simple 20th-minute finish.

Blades midfielder Michael Tonge, being watched by a host of top clubs including Newcastle, struck from a free-kick seven minutes later and equalised in the 35th minute with a glorious 25-yard drive.

But Greening's effort from similar range in the 67th minute was no less impressive as it crashed in off the underside of the bar after Juninho's run and Nemeth's lay-off had created the opening.

Although Boro have scored seven goals in pre-season - they also won 1-0 at Hull and 3-1 against Rotherham - more than a few chances have gone begging and manager Steve McClaren is demanding a better strike ratio.

Greening said: "We've created a lot of chances, but we probably should have scored a few more.

"The gaffer is always hammering me and the other midfielders to score more goals.

"I love to score - I was a striker when I first went to Manchester United and I was top scorer in the reserve league two years in a row, so I am capable of scoring.

"But he's been banging on at the strikers especially. The club brought in Massimo Maccarone and Szilard, and you want one of them to get 15 goals a season - that's what you need if you're going to get into the top eight in the Premiership.

"The gaffer is trying to bring a few players in because we're down to the bare bones with injuries to Ugo Ehiogu, Michael Ricketts and George Boateng.''

McClaren joked that Boro's bench was so youthful he had to confiscate the champagne they received from Tracey because "they're too young to drink''.

Keeper Brad Jones, defender Andrew Davies, winger Stewart Downing and midfielders Gary Smith and James Morrison were among McClaren's substitutes.

The Boro boss insists he is still "miles away'' from knowing what his line-up will be on the opening day of the Premiership season at Fulham.

But unless he adds to his squad in the next fortnight, injuries and suspension largely dictate McClaren's options and the side that started on Saturday could well be the one that kicks off the campaign.

Sheffield United: Tracey (Kenny 52 mins); Jagielka (Kozluk 72), Page, Morgan, Armstrong (Whitlow 60); Ndlovu (Parkinson 80), Rankine (Brown 60), McCall (Montgomery 72), Tonge; Allison (Asaba 72), Lester (Peschisolido 60).

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer (Jones 71); Riggott, Southgate, Cooper (Queudrue 74); Stockdale (Davies 90), Doriva, Greening, Wright; Juninho; Christie (Marinelli 74), Nemeth. Subs (not used): Smith, Downing, Morrison.

Attendance: 6,155.