BRADFORD old boy Dean Windass last night threw his weight behind Middlesbrough's projected swoop for former teammate Benito Carbone.

Boro today set out to stop Carbone from blocking their relegation escape route - before offering him a Premiership future.

The skilful Italian striker will be a prime target if Boro safeguard top-flight status.

A win over a Carbone-inspired Bradford at Valley Parade will finally lay to rest Boro's lingering relegation fears.

And Carbone, whose proposed move to the Riverside collapsed on transfer deadline day when he failed to agree personal terms, could be Boro bound as long as everything goes to plan.

The controversial Carbone was in line to join Boro on a free transfer after Bradford chairman Geoffrey Richmond decided the club could no longer afford his £40,000-a-week salary.

Bantams' boss Jim Jefferies, presented with a revised budget following relegation, has now been told by Richmond he has only £5m to cover wages next season - 40 per cent of which would go on Carbone's £2m-a-year deal.

With Bradford forced to sell, Boro could land 29-year-old Carbone for under £3m.

And Windass, who joined Boro from Bradford for £1m only a week before the breakdown of Carbone's move, last night urged the Teessiders to snap him up.

Windass, who makes an emotional first return to his old club today, declared: "Benito Carbone is a great talent, the best player I've ever played with.

"He can make goals and score them and is far too good for the First Division. He would be a good buy for Middlesbrough.

"He wants to play at the highest level. I was disappointed when he didn't sign, but he may be leaving Bradford now.

"It was easy for me to play with him and he is a joy to watch in training. I'm friendly with him and keep in touch. He's as nice a lad as you could hope to meet.

"He's a tremendous professional on and off the pitch and I don't understand why he has this reputation of being difficult.

"He says things were blown out of proportion when he was at Sheffield Wednesday, where he was supposed to have had a problem, though I think there may have been some jealousy involved.

"It is true his wife was a bit unhappy over here but that's a personal thing and I believe the family are happy now.

"He was left out by Jim Jefferies for a while, but he's come back and been playing really well.

"One of the problems when he moved there was that Bradford expected too much of him.''

Head coach Terry Venables, who needs two points from as many games to be certain of steering Boro to safety, is a fully-paid-up member of the Carbone fan club.

"I was disappointed that we couldn't come to some aggrangement with him,'' said Venables. "I think he's a good player and I wouldn't rule anything out.''

Venables has been delighted with the signing of Windass, who has grabbed two goals in six starts.

"I've been very pleased with him,'' he said. "He's a real character and such a full-blooded guy.

"He's a scrapper, but I think he's more than that. He's a good passer and he wants to learn.

"He offers a threat, gets his fair share of goals and he's good in the air for his size. He's done everything we've asked of him.

"He played well against us in the FA Cup in January, but I've liked him for a long while and we'd spoken about him before that game.''

Windass, who helped Bradford survive on the final day last season, said: "If we won there it would be a great end to the story for me.

"I'm looking forward to winning, then having a drink with the Bradford lads.

"I'm not bothered about the sort of reception I get from the fans. It's three points that count, not me.

"I got on well there with Paul Jewell who bought me, Jim Jefferies and the chairman, Geoffrey Richmond.

"It's a great club, the feeling among the players is terrific and they can bounce back - I hope they do it next season.

"Jim is a strong character who wants his own men there. He didn't want me to leave, but there were other considerations, like the wage bill.

"They have to reduce that for the First Division and Jim set out from the start to do that and plan for the future.

"Bradford is different to Middlesbrough. I'm at a club now with huge facilities. There are big-name players here who admit they under-achieved early on this season. Some of the players have never been in a relegation situation before, but they can handle it."