SCOTT MCDONALD is confident of building a partnership with Lukas Jutkiewicz which he believes can finally get the best out of him.

Middlesbrough's Australian striker returned to the fold on Saturday with a substitute appearance against Brighton, after missing two months of Championship football with a knee ligament injury.

In that time, Jutkiewicz has grown into his new role at the Riverside having signed from Coventry City in January, and has formed a decent partnership alongside top-scorer Marvin Emnes.

But McDonald plans to give the current strike duo a run for their money as he steps up his return to the line-up, in a hope that he can rekindle the form which saw him score 51 goals in 84 appearances when he was at Celtic, and he would relish teaming up with the Boro new boy.

"I really do feel I can build a partnership with Lukas", said McDonald. "I've said it before but he's my type of player, he's a targetman, the evidence is there within ten seconds of coming on on Saturday, I played him in and he hit the post.

"That's where my success came when I was a Celtic player, playing off a bigger man."

When all three of Boro's first-choice forwards were fit, Boro boss Tony Mowbray has utilised all together in a three-pronged attack, and McDonald said: "I'm just happy to be playing, though. Whether it's playing up top, in behind, or out left which I've done this season.

"It's up to the manager what he wants to do, we've got Marv scoring goals as well, so you can't forget that - it's totally disrespectful if I was to.

"He's done a fantastic job for us and kept us in the fight, so we'll just have to wait and see. There may be games where the gaffer may want to change things around, he's got some good options to have."

McDonald paid tribute to the staff at Boro's Rockliffe Park training base as they made sure the forward's recovery was a swift one.

"It's been a difficult time for me," said McDonald, who was initially ruled out for the rest of the season. "I've never been out for this long before, touch wood, but I've got to give full credit the staff at the club, they've done a fantastic job with me, pulled the reins in on me a few times, when I was getting overly keen to get back into things, but we've done everything right, they're delighted as much as me to get me out there.

"Hopefully now, I'm feeling fit, I'm feeling fine, and to come on against Brighton was a good test for me.

"The game stretched a little more when I came on. I said to the boys "was it just me, or did the game stretch?" and they said "no, it's not you, the game stretched" - I felt a bit better then.

"Seriously, it's good to be back and I've just got to keep working hard now and force my way back into the team."

Emnes scored Boro's goal at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, a goal which was credited in some quarters to Albion midfielder Liam Bridcutt, who challenged the Dutchman for the ball from Barry Robson's corner.

But McDonald said: "I don't think he knew much when he flicked it on. I'll have to see it again, I was at the other end of the pitch warming up. I would take that, wouldn't I? So yeah, it's his goal."

Mowbray has spoken about McDonald being like a new signing for Boro, and with six games left of the regular season - notwithstanding play-off games - it could not come at a better time for a side which has drawn its last four games.

Mowbray said: "He has been sharp in training for the last week and his ability to turn and spin and keep going and work the opposition defenders is going to be crucial to us I think over the next four weeks.

"I'm looking forward to Scott bursting back on the scene full of energy with something to prove and wanting to score some goals.

"I know he will be goal-hungry and I'm sure he will be an asset for us over the next four weeks - fresh and ready to go."