Jason Gavin hopes to line up at the Riverside against champions Manchester United on Saturday and help the Middlesbrough back-line take their impressive clean-sheet record to four in the their last five games.

The Irishman has come into the Boro defence in the last month and after what he admits was an edgy start, has settled easily into a back-five formation.

While their neighbours on Tyneside approach the 30-game mark without registering a zero in the goals against, Boro have become something of shut-out specialists.

Since Terry Venables arrived as head coach in December last year, the Teessiders have managed 11 clean sheets in 21 games, including nine out of 18 in the Premiership.

Another last weekend at Leicester put the Premiership safety mark in sight, but any thoughts of easing off after successive away wins pulled them five points clear of relegation were quickly dismissed by the Republic of Ireland under-21 international.

Gavin said: "We still can't say that we're safe yet but the two away wins have helped us a great deal and given us a great chance.

"We've got Man United on Saturday and that game is just as important as it was before we kicked off against Leicester.

"We will be trying to take something from the game and if we do then I think we can start thinking about next season."

The uncompromising defender admitted that the atmosphere in the dressing room had changed over the last few weeks as the team began to approach the safety mark.

"There is an element of relief around but I think that is also because we have had two good away wins," said Gavin.

The youngster has impressed in an unaccustomed role of right-back after coming in against Chelsea last month and he is just happy to be playing regular first-team football.

After some barracking from the Riverside fans in the derby against Sunderland, Gavin has started winning over even his fiercest of critics.

"I am just enjoying playing again," he said. "At the moment I don't care where I am being played. I am a centre-back playing right-back but that hasn't bothered me so far.

"I was a bit edgy in the first home game (against Sunderland) at the Riverside playing in that position, because the fans got on my back.

"But I soon settled down and now I have really started to enjoy it."

l Middlesbrough fans are ready to salute Alen Boksic for the crucial goals that now look likely to guarantee another season of Premiership football, writes NEIL ANDREWS.

Boksic has hit 12 vital league goals to help prise the club away from the danger zone after a disastrous first half of the season.

And the Croatian is favourite to be hailed as the Player of the Year in a supporters' poll after coming out on top in the first round of voting.

The reaction from fans is a recognition of the former Lazio striker's achievement in a season in which chances have been strictly limited for front players.

With three games to go, Boksic has a chance of challenging the record of another international striker, Fabrizio Ravanelli, who scored 16 league goals for Boro four years ago - though they were relegated that season after three points were deducted.

But they are set up to cheat the relegation trapdoor this time and the 30-year-old has played a significant part with crucial strikes that have earned points - and Boro have not lost when he has scored.

There were doubts when Boksic suffered injuries in the early part of the season but, after withdrawing from international football to work on his fitness, his appearance record is excellent. He has started 18 of the last 20 games, appearing as a substitute in the other two, scoring six goals, including one at Leeds that earned a point and two at Newcastle that sealed a 2-1 win.

And he also notched the important second goal at Leicester on Saturday in the 3-0 victory with an outstanding individual strike.

"He is a world-class player, we all recognise that, and he has done a tremendous job for us," said Venables.

Striker Andy Campbell could be ruled out of the Riverside test against United after picking up a thigh strain and Christian Karembeu is suspended.