SPORTING LISBON coach Jose Peseiro has turned to Sir Alex Ferguson's number two Carlos Queiroz in an attempt to topple the Middlesbrough side managed by a previous assistant manager at Old Trafford, writes Paul Fraser.

Steve McClaren worked alongside Ferguson in 1999, when United won the Champions League, but decided to go it alone in the summer of 2001, when he took over at the Riverside Stadium from Bryan Robson.

Now, as Boro prepare to face Sporting tonight, Peseiro has admitted he has been in contact with Ferguson's latest right-hand man in a bid to overcome the Teessiders in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.

"I did talk with Carlos and I also spoke to a few other friends," said Peseiro, Queiroz' assistant at Real Madrid last season.

"We also observed a lot of tapes. Middlesbrough are a strong and compact team and have only lost twice at home, not in the UEFA though.

"The better known players are obvious and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has had a really good campaign but also some of the young ones too."

Sporting have never won the UEFA Cup and their last European success was in 1964, when they won the Cup Winners' Cup, beating Manchester United en route.

After a scintillating start to their SuperLiga campaign, they lost to mid-table Belenenses on Sunday 1-0 and are now fourth.

Star man is striker Liedson, who tops the Portuguese scoring charts. The Brazilian has shrugged off a knee injury and should line up in the team alongside Newcastle midfielder Hugo Viana, who is on loan at his former club.

"He feels good playing with us and we would like him to remain here," said Peseiro.