Goals the only thing missing for Aliadiere

9:04am Saturday 19th April 2008

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JEREMIE Aliadiere has been happy with his all-round game in his first season at the Riverside Stadium but admitted he has been frustrated by his meagre return of just four goals.

The 25-year-old former Arsenal player accepts his return is not good enough.

Throughout his career, the Frenchman has never been regarded as a prolific goalscorer, although that did not deter Boro boss Gareth Southgate from paying £2m for his services in June last year.

However, Aliadiere has faith in his own ability and maintains that he can prove his critics wrong and establish himself as a regular marksman in Southgate's side.

He said: "I'm disappointed at not scoring as many goals as I wanted to but, apart from that, albeit a big part, I'm happy with the way I've been playing and being given the opportunity to develop as a player.

"If I could score more goals then I would, sometimes it just doesn't happen for me. I believe I can become a prolific goal scorer.

I work on my finishing in training every day.

"Maybe I put myself under too much pressure to score goals."

Following the departures of Yakubu and Mark Viduka, Middlesbrough have sorely missed an out-and-out striker this season.

England winger Stewart Downing currently leads Middlesbrough's goalscoring charts with eight goals.

Southgate moved to solve Boro's problems in front of goal when he paid Dutch club Heerenveen a club record £12.7m fee for Brazil striker Afonso Alves in January.

Aliadiere hopes the arrival of Alves will provide him with more opportunities in front of goal.

But, given Alves' reputation for scoring goals, Aliadiere admits his role is likely to be more as a provider than a goalscorer.

"Hopefully (Afonso) Alves can help me score more goals," said Aliadiere. "He doesn't look to be the striker who will create things, he needs players around him to create things for him, which is my role.

"I get much pleasure out of providing a goal for someone as scoring one. It gives me as much joy."

Despite Aliadiere's poor goal record, Southgate has kept faith with the pacy forward and that is something he is grateful for, having often been barely on the periphery of Arsene Wenger's plans during seven years at Arsenal.

Aliadiere made just seven league starts for the Gunners and he said: "The manager has stood by me through injuries or suspensions and put me straight back in so it's a big change, I've never been in that situation before."

Aliadiere went in search of first-team football at Celtic, West Ham and Wolves during loan spells.

But, after penning a four-year deal at the Riverside Stadium last summer, Aliadiere is now settled with life on Teesside and happy to be a regular part of Southgate's plans.

"I didn't know what to expect come in here I just wanted to play every week which I'm doing,"

said Aliadiere.

"I'd like to have scored more goals but it's my first season of regular football and I'm just looking forward to see what happens next season.

"I've felt better with every game I've played it's just about getting more goals and chances, that's what I'm disappointed with.

"I left Arsenal to play more games, you improve by playing regularly against top teams and players."