WITH a triumphant clenched fist salute to the main stand at the Riverside Stadium, Paul Gascoigne celebrated his sweetest moment in football for more than two years.

In May 1998, only weeks after joining Middlesbrough from Rangers for 3.45m, Gazza was the life and soul of the promotion party on Teesside after helping Bryan Robson's side back into the Premiership.

On Saturday, in his first game here since his Boro career was ultimately shattered by a broken arm almost seven months ago, Gascoigne was celebrating again.

Had he scored himself in Everton's victorious fightback, it would have been the stuff of fantasy.

But the Geordie midfielder was more than content to simply apply an architectural touch to Boro's downfall.

Fun-loving Gazza had sent a mobile phone text message to former boss Bryan Robson, warning him: "I'm coming to get you!'' And he did just that.

This time, Gazza had his serious head on.

Francis Jeffers had already wiped out Boro's lead when 33-year-old Gascoigne, looking leaner and fitter than he has for a long time, released the England Under-21 striker to settle the issue four minutes from time.

Gazza turned back the clock with a glimpse of the player he once was, setting off on a surging run and delivering a perfectly-timed ball to Jeffers.

And the 19-year-old, who scored here for the Under-21 side in their recent 6-1 hammering of Georgia, made it five goals in as many games for his club this season when he followed up to finish after Boro defender Jason Gavin had blocked his initial shot on the line. That was Gazza's cue to sprint to the touchline and embrace Everton boss Walter Smith, the man who was prepared to give him one last chance after Robson agreed to a free transfer this summer.

Following the loss of a three-goal lead in his side's 3-3 draw at Derby, it was another sickener for Robson as he watched Boro throw away an advantage for the second time in four days.

A muted chorus of boos was the immediate response from the Riverside faithful, most of whom made a dash for the exits as a jubilant Jeffers savoured his double strike.

The Boro fans have seen their side pick up only one point from the first nine at home and renewed rumblings of discontent can already be heard.

It is also a cause for concern when Boro, with a total of seven strikers to call on, have to rely on an own goal to give them a kick-start.

Admittedly, it was the impressive Alen Boksic, with three goals in his previous two appearances for Boro, who was instrumental in the seventh-minute breakthrough on his home debut.

The powerful Croatian striker burst down the left to deliver a dangerous ball which former Newcastle defender Steve Watson diverted into his own net.

Despite that calamity, Watson was all smiles later. A summer target for Boro, he clearly feels he made the right move when he quit Aston Villa in a 2m deal.

Watson is one seven key new faces in the injury-hit Everton ranks and admits they haven't yet quite had time to gel.

But with Gazza around, the camaraderie is coming and there's no shortage of dressing-room banter. "We're a relatively new bunch of lads and, with injuries, we're down to the bare bones,'' said Watson.

"But the one you can rely on to keep things buzzing is Gazza. He's always talking, sometimes too much, but he keeps the place lively.''

Fellow Geordie Watson reckons Gascoigne proved a point to Boro. "When Gazza gets the ball and starts dictating the play, he can slow the game down to his pace,'' said Watson.

"I thought we were different class in the second half and started to run the midfield, and Gazza was controlling things.

"The great thing about him is that, no matter how well or badly he's playing, he always wants the ball.

"I think he proved here that, despite all the injuries he's had over the years, he was as fit as anybody on the pitch. He probably raised a few eyebrows with one or two tracking runs. I'm pleased he's proving people wrong.''

Robson conceded that his own midfield, in which skipper Paul Ince and Christian Karembeu were disappointing to say the least, had been "outfought and outworked'' by Gazza and Co.

"I thought Gazza's fitness looked pretty good in the second half,'' said Robson. "In the first half we robbed him in possession a few times, but I've always said that, if he's fit and working hard, he's still a very good player.

"It's a bonus for Gazza. Everton outfought and outworked us and our midfield lads have got to look at that and make sure they get on top of their fitness and that this doesn't happen again.''

Robson also admitted that his defence, in which Dean Gordon made his first start for over a year after a cruciate injury and Gianluca Festa only his second appearance this term, looked "ring rusty''.

If Gazza was inevitably the centre of attention in this game, midfield colleague Thomas Gravesen was the real driving force behind Everton's success.

It was the Danish international, a 2.5m signing from SV Hamburg, who prompted the comeback in the 54th minute with an immaculately-judged ball for Jeffers to finish with an angled drive.