STEVE McClaren last night claimed a fully-fit Mark Viduka was as good as any striker in the Premiership after the Australian's virtuoso display single-handedly destroyed Birmingham.

Viduka's first-half double helped earn Boro a 3-0 win at St Andrew's - their first victory on the ground in 27 years - and represented a startling return to form following an injury-hit eight months.

The striker, who has been plagued by a succession of back and hamstring problems, completed his first 90 minutes of 2005 on the same ground where his injury woes began last December.

And, after marking his return to the West Midlands with a well-taken opener, Viduka underlined his undoubted ability with a sensational second.

"I have been saying all along that Viduka is a special player and he showed it here," said McClaren. "When he is fully-fit there is no better striker in the country.

"He is quality. The first goal was not easy, but the second one was pure quality. I thought it was an impossible angle, but he left several players standing and scored with a terrific strike."

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness recently made an attempt to sign Viduka, while Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna have also been lining up a £6.5m bid for his services.

But after Boro suffered a goal shortage with the Aussie on the sidelines in the second half of last season, McClaren once again underlined just how highly he rates the former Leeds hitman.

"When we signed him we looked at Mark's injury record and it was very good," he said. "Then we looked at his goalscoring record and it was even better.

"That's why, when we lost him through injury, we started to struggle to score goals. He has worked very hard over the summer to try to build up his fitness and he still has a little way to go.

"That was the first time he has played almost a full game and now we have to keep him fit and playing like that, because he is capable of doing this again for us."

McClaren praised the overall quality of his side's efforts.

"I'm delighted with the performance," said an understandably content Boro boss. "We carried on where we left off in the second half at Spurs on Saturday. We played very well and got what we deserved."