STEVE McCLAREN has hailed loan signing Benito Carbone as Middlesbrough's missing link - but warned he must produce goals as well as guile to clinch a permanent move to the Riverside.

Carbone has created two goals in as many appearances since his arrival from Bradford City a fortnight ago on a three-month deal.

The Italian's intuitive pass left Alen Boksic in the clear to open the scoring in Tuesday's crucial 2-1 home win over Fulham, and his cleverly delivered corner was headed in by Dean Windass to salvage a point against visitors Leeds ten days earlier.

But Carbone has so far fluffed chances of his own, placing question marks against an already suspect goal-scoring pedigree.

Boro manager McClaren admitted: "It's something we've discussed. He certainly wants to score goals, so I would say, 'Ask the question again at the end of the season,' and we'll see if he's achieved that.

"We're looking very closely at Beni and what he can do; his contribution and the way he fits into this team, and what we want to get out of it long-term.

"Sometimes players are meant for teams. This is why we've brought him in to have a look at him, but who knows in the summer?

"He's not an out-and-out striker, he's a second striker who links the play, creates goals and gets the odd one now and again.

"He's capable of scoring - I remember a hat-trick for Aston Villa in the Cup against Leeds.

"But he provides the service Boksic thrives on. I didn't get Dwight Yorke or Diego Forlan and it took me three days of negotiations to get Beni here.

"From day one, in his first training session, he gave a spark to everybody. I've watched him for years and he is someone other players appreciate and like to play with. Nobody will benefit more than Boksic.

"Beni's workrate is excellent. He is willing to do the work when we haven't got the ball.

"But he's got a lot to prove here. We need to keep him on his toes and make sure he maintains this kind of form and does the job we brought him here to do - create goals, excite the crowd and score a couple himself.

"On the evidence of what we've seen in games and in training, there is a spark there with Boksic.

"And don't forget Szilard Nemeth and Noel Whelan, so we've got options up front now and Beni was the link that was missing.

"But it doesn't mean we're not looking to bring anyone else in. I just felt we needed that link player and we've got one in Beni."

Fit-again Boksic scored in his first start since Boxing Day and McClaren conceded: "We've certainly missed him - he's our number one goalscorer and striker.

"It's the same as Liverpool and Michael Owen, and Manchester United and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

"I think the Carbone signing has lifted the whole place, but particularly Alen. You saw that the way they combined the other night - he wasn't getting the service before.

"He's playing well because he's confident, and when he's one-on-one with a keeper, you can put your mortgage on him."

Boro, who climbed to 11th with the victory over Fulham, six points clear of the relegation places, will move into the Premiership's top ten if they win today against West Ham at Upton Park.

"It's a tremendous incentive,'' said McClaren. "We've had one defeat in 11. "We're in the last eight of the FA Cup and we're having a good run, but we've achieved nothing. It was a milestone to top 30 points. Our next target is 40.''

* A special benefit match will be played in London today in memory of Finlay Cooper, the two-year-old son of Boro defender Colin, who died tragically last month.

The match is at the New Co-op Ground, Eltham (10.45am), where the Millwall Blues take on the Boro Reds.

It is being organised by supporters of Middlesbrough and Millwall, one of Colin's former clubs.

The proceeds will go to Colin and Julie Cooper's chosen charities, Goldsborough Hall and St Mary's Church Restoration Fund, in their home village in North Yorkshire.

* Boro's reserve match at Everton next Tuesday has been postponed due to the Merseysiders' FA Cup fifth-round replay at Crewe. The winners meet Boro

Read more about the Boro here.