MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren insists he will stick by struggling striker Massimo Maccarone.

The Italian international was hauled off at half-time in last Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Charlton Athletic after being barracked by sections of the Riverside crowd.

Maccarone, Boro's record buy at £8.15m, has yet to win over the majority of the Teesside faithful after a series of lacklustre performances.

The 23-year-old forward has scored only seven goals in his first season in England - two of them from the penalty spot.

McClaren has dropped Maccarone three times and splashed out over £6m on strikers Michael Ricketts and Malcolm Christie just before the transfer window closed in January, in a desperate effort to boost shot-shy Boro's goal output.

Maccarone, discarded by AC Milan as a youngster, made an immediate impact with Boro following his arrival from Empoli last summer, when he hit four goals in his first eight games this season.

And McClaren remains adamant that Maccarone will adjust to life in the Premiership, given time.

The Boro boss had a blunt message for the boo-boys, saying: "Massimo is part of the squad and part of our plans here.''

* Boro defender Phil Gulliver played for Boston United Reserves against Hartlepool yesterday with a view to joining the Lincolnshire club on loan.

Barnard Castle-born Gulliver, 20, has already had loan spells with Blackpool and Carlisle.

* The semi-final of the FA Youth Cup between Middlesbrough and Manchester City is finely poised going into next week's second leg at Maine Road, following a keenly-contested affair at the Riverside last night, writes Neil ANdrews.

Both sides gave their all in an entertaining match which saw City take the lead with just 16 minutes on the clock.

David Wheater conceded a free-kick midway inside the Boro half which was floated into the box in teasing style by Lee Croft.

Paul Murphy was allowed pretty much a free header from seven yards as Boro's defence failed to pick him up and he nodded in at the near post.

However, it took the home side just ten minutes to draw level, another goal coming from a free-kick.

Anthony McMahon floated in a deep ball from just inside the City half to the right-hand edge of the visitors' penalty area where Chris Brunt had taken up a good position and headed in from eight yards.

Both sides played a passing game and it was City who almost regained the advantage when rounding off a neat move with just short of an hour played, Wheater clearing a header from Murphy off the line.

Centre-back Wheater was seen as an attacking threat with 13 minutes remaining when dispatching an overhead kick from seven yards which was brilliantly tipped over by City keeper, Keiren Westwood.

It was his opposite number, Ross Turnbull, who produced the final save of the game diving full length to tip away a lot shot with minutes remaining to ensure both sides go into the second leg on an even footing.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, McMahon, Harrison, Bates, Davies, Wheater, Morrison, Taylor, Peacock, Liddle, Brunt. Subs (not used): Masters, Nordgren, Kennedy, Craddock, Knight (gk).

Read more about Middlesbrough here.