UNDER-FIRE boss Bryan Robson could enlist the coaching expertise of Terry Venables to help revitalise ailing Middlesbrough.

Robson, who has received a vote of confidence from chairman Steve Gibson despite Boro's slide into the Premiership's bottom four, yesterday admitted for the first time that he is considering bringing in a top-line coach.

And former England boss Venables, currently out of the game, is foremost in his thoughts.

Robson believes the FA should have reappointed Venables as national team coach instead of going for Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The Boro boss worked as Venables' right-hand man during England's memorable Euro '96 campaign and is a huge admirer of his coaching methods.

If he failed to lure Venables, Robson could turn to Don Howe, whom he played under at West Brom and also worked with in the England set-up.

Robson insists he is happy with his existing backroom team of assistant manager Viv Anderson and first-team coach Gordon McQueen, who were teammates of his at Manchester United.

But Robson conceded: "I'm looking at bringing in someone on the coaching side, even though I'm quite happy with my staff.

"I think I've learned enough in the game at Man. United, in my early days at West Brom and when I worked under Terry Venables. I learned a hell of a lot from him.

"Viv Anderson has been a manager and Gordon McQueen has been all over Europe as a coach so we've got a lot of experience behind us.

"But the coaching side is something I've got to look at in the medium term.

"In the short-term, I think we'll turn things round. It might not be over the next couple of games - it might be in the two games after that against Leicester or Bradford.

"But if we stay towards the bottom of the league and we're not getting the results to climb away from there, then I've got to look at that and ask if we are missing something in the coaching area.

"Otherwise, the structure of the club is great - you couldn't have a better set-up.''

Robson revealed he had conducted one-to-one counselling sessions with senior players this week to analyse individual performances.

"I've been talking to most of my players as individuals rather than as a group,'' said Robson. "I think they open up more in that situation.

"The boys feel that, as individuals, they are under-achieving at the moment and that we've got to improve as a unit. Everything else around the club is fine. We just need to get our first home Premiership win this season.

"I believe in my players and I feel they've got better performances in them than they are showing. It's a case of getting confidence back in certain individuals.''

Boro suffered their fourth successive defeat when they were knocked out of the Worthington Cup by First Division Wimbledon on Tuesday.

Robson is facing flak from disaffected fans, but last night called for their backing in today's home clash with title-chasing Arsenal.

"I think it would give everybody a massive boost if we could get a good result against them,'' said Robson.

"The fans have got to get right behind the lads. If they do that the lads will respond and work much harder for them.

"It's been a really frustrating season. As a manager you just want to have your full side out and be judged on that.

"I had nearly a team out the other night against Wimbledon, but I don't believe this run of injuries can keep going the way it is.

"Next week I would expect Mark Schwarzer, Paul Ince and Alen Boksic all to come into contention for the game at Man. United.

"With those three back, things will look a hell of a lot healthier.

"The games against Arsenal and Man. United are a big challenge for the lads.

"But I'd sooner be in our position than Derby's. A gap has opened between us and them at the bottom, but we can't afford to let the gap get too wide between us and say ninth position.

"Then you're always playing catch-up.''

Goalkeeper Schwarzer, out for seven weeks with a broken thumb, has a chance of returning today after figuring in a friendly game against Berwick this week.

But striker Alen Boksic is still out with a knee ligament problem.

Robson is hoping the challenge of facing his countrymen will bring the best out of midfielder Christian Karembeu.

Fellow France star Patrick Vieira will be in direct opposition to Karembeu, who was brought off at Wimbledon after another poor performance.

But Robson said: "I think Christian started the season very well. Maybe he's missed having the more aggressive players around him like Paul Ince and Robbie Mustoe."

lBoro midfielder Neil Maddison yesterday joined Barnsley on a month's loan and is eligible for tomorrow's televised game against Wimbledon at Oakwell.