MIDDLESBROUGH defender Gareth Southgate believes Boro have one of the best coaches in Europe in Steve McClaren.

The former Manchester United assistant endured a torrid opening few months to his managerial career at the Riverside but it now looks as though Southgate and his teammates have put their disastrous start behind them after last Saturday's 5-1 demolition of Derby County.

Southgate, a £6.5million summer signing from Aston Villa believes he has benefited playing under McClaren at both club and international level.

The 31-year-old has won 43 caps for England and he aims to win many more as Sven Goran Eriksson's side prepare for next summer's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.

Southgate said: ''I've learnt a lot working with Steve McClaren, which is going to stand me in good stead. I'm now working with one of the best coaches in Europe day in and day out.

''If the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Sven-Goran Eriksson appoint you, then that speaks volumes for Steve's qualities.

''I think that working with him is benefitting me already and the thing that strikes me about him more than anything is his attention to detail.

''From a player's point of view you need to go into games feeling you have covered everything and that you've put yourself through all the scenarios that might happen.

''You have the opportunity to work on things like fitness so if a manager then ensures you have no unknowns to think about then that gives you tremendous confidence for going into battle.

''When Boro lost three or four games early on, people were saying about him 'he is finding management harder than coaching'.

"I found it incredible he was being written off at such an early stage.

''Steve didn't panic. His demeanour was exactly the same. He didn't show any concern to the players and he took any pressure off us.

''He just maintained the belief that if we kept doing what we were doing in training from Monday to Friday then eventually that would follow on into games on Saturday.

''I also believe that he is capable of coping with his Middlesbrough and England roles.

"And he has coaches at the club more than capable of helping to deal with that situation when he is away.'' Southgate admits he took a gamble in terms of his England prospects when moving to the Riverside while Eriksson was selecting players predominantly experiencing the Champions League.

He said: ''There was an element of risk in not being involved in Europe.

"When you look at the teams Sven has picked, they are based on people playing in Europe.

''But outside of that I thought there was no risk once I'd spoken to Steve because he's got a longer-term vision.

''International football is fantastic and a big part of my life but you've got to be happy day in and day out and see the direction things are going.

''I've become a better person as much as anything else because there are people at Boro that can work on every aspect of your game - physical, mental or technical - and that's going to stand me in good stead.

''Of course, the teams at the top of the League are going to be there because they have the best players and so they are looked at first. The experience of playing in Europe has to help you as a player.

''But I'm fortunate in that I've had that before and Sven is a very intelligent man. He knows what he is looking for in a player and, whether that is in Europe or in the League, he'll make his decision on what he sees.''

Southgate added: ''We've now got a period of six or seven months where everyone is going to want to try and stake their claim for the World Cup finals.

''I've had two or three years when I was the first choice centre-half with England.

"When you are not first choice you've got to play your role in helping the team.

''But at the same time I believe that I've got a part to play and any player who doesn't think that way shouldn't be here if they don't think they are good enough to be in there.

''Although certain players have had the centre-half shirts up to now, I've got these next few months to work on things and try and force my way into his (Eriksson's) thinking so I start in Japan and Korea. That's my aim.''

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