MIDDLESBROUGH fans had two reasons to celebrate on Sunday: rivals Newcastle crashed to a 4-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat and confirmation duly arrived that Manchester United and Arsenal will contest the FA Cup next month meaning seventh place in the Premiership secures another place in the UEFA Cup next season.

Boro are currently eighth in the table, six points short of sixth placed Liverpool with a game in hand.

A victory over Fulham at the Riverside this evening will cut the gap to three.

Boro's taste of European competition has only served to whet their appetite and fans are salivating at the thought of another challenge against the European elite.

Boss Steve McClaren is leaving nothing to chance and despite being in a strong position to qualify for Europe through the league, Boro are one of three, with Tottenham and Newcastle, who have applied to contest in the much maligned Intertoto cup.

Most British clubs have shunned the competition in the past believing their season would later fall apart should they enter.

But Newcastle entered the competition four years ago and still finished fourth in the Premiership to secure a place in the Champions League.

McClaren is similarly optimistic and believes with a larger squad he sees no reason why the Teessiders can't have a successful European and domestic campaign.

He said: "We looked at Villarreal this season who went through to the Intertoto Cup.

"They had a bad start to the season but they are having a tremendous second half.

"I think the biggest thing is the squad that you have and being able to rotate. I have looked at the results at the weekend of the clubs who had performed in Europe and they all struggled.

"We won one game in ten after we had played in Europe. Whether that was because of the squad size or whatever I don't know but that game is difficult coming back from Europe.

"But that is what you have to cope with and what we have learned in Europe this season. I hope we get into Europe again next season because we have learnt so much and we can take that forward, but we need the squad and more players"

McClaren's preparations for tonight have been rocked by another injury.

It looks as if Chris Riggott will join Mark Viduka, Gaizka Mendieta and Malcolm Christie on the sidelines for the rest of the season after breaking down in training yesterday. Ugo Ehiogu will step in.

There is no hiding that Boro's season started with a bang but has subsequently threatened to fizzle out since the turn of the year and, injury has had a starring role in this misfortune.

McClaren admitted he has identified the individuals required to strengthen next season's squad as they strive to build on this season's progress.

Last Friday, Northern Echo SPORT revealed McClaren was spotted at Juventus' Champions League quarter-final in Turin.

It would hardly come as a surprise any Juve players winged their way into Durham Tees Valley airport before August.

Boro were strongly linked with centre-back Igor Tudor - currently on loan at Sienna with Boro's £8m record signing Massimo Maccarone - during the January transfer window, and it would be a surprise if the Croatian stopper wasn't discussed on their visit

"There was no hiding the fact that Keith (Lamb) and I took in the Juventus game," admitted McClaren.

"We have good links with Juventus and we got together and spoke about a few things because things might need to be done in the summer, and Juve is one club that we want to be linked with.

"We're looking at the fringe players they have. This is the time of the year where you're looking at the big clubs and you're asking what they're releasing and who they may be releasing on loan.

"We want to be in a position where we are talking to these clubs and that is why we are making an effort to keep links with the likes of Juventus.

"We are working to get established early (in the transfer market) because I really believe this will be a big year for this football club.

"I think we built a pretty good squad this year. We've seen the areas we need to strengthen and there is an ambition from the chairman.

"When we were in the top six we got a feeling for it and when we were in Europe we got a feeling for it.

"It's exciting and there is a buzz and it is great being part of a successful club.

"The chairman saw that, got excited about it and wanted more of it and he is willing to do whatever it is to progress again.

"We want to establish ourselves as a top six club permanently. I think we're in a good position, we've built a solid platform over four years to even go to the next level."

McClaren added he is still keeping close tabs on his loan striker Maccarone and did not rule out a possible return to the club.

He added: "We sent Don Mackay to Sienna at the weekend and Massimo contributed when he came on in a great victory against AC Milan.

"I am hoping to go out on Wednesday and watch him play against Roma. We always said we would keep an eye on him and he is playing well.

"There is a possibility Massimo is progressing the way we though he would."

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