FORGOTTEN man Carlo Nash has admitted that he will be playing for his footballing future as well as for Middlesbrough when Steve McClaren's side travel to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Nash made his first Premiership start for almost 16 months after Mark Schwarzer injured his knee in the run-up to Sunday's 2-2 draw with Charlton.

The Australian has already been ruled out of this weekend's trip to Villa Park, paving the way for Boro's second-choice stopper to make his fourth appearance of the season.

Bolton-born Nash moved to Teesside in August 2003 after falling out of favour at his previous club, Manchester City.

The 31-year-old can boast more than 160 senior starts in his career, but has been unable to dislodge Schwarzer from his place between the sticks.

His current contract expires at the end of this season and, with McClaren extremely unlikely to grant him a new deal in the summer, the next two months offer his best chance of attracting new employers.

Saturday's game could be his last chance of proving what he can do in the Premiership and, after helping Boro earn a point last weekend, Nash is desperate to help himself in the West Midlands.

"I'm out of contract at the end of the season," said Nash, who has also played for Crystal Palace, Stockport and Wolves. "So it's good for me to get appearances in the Premiership.

"It puts me in the shop window if nothing else, then it's down to me to impress any other clubs who are watching.

"While I'm a Boro player I will remain fully committed to the club, but I'm also playing for my own future at the moment.

"Middlesbrough still haven't spoken to me about next season. I think they realise I'm too good to be a number two, and that I need first-team football, so maybe that's the reason.

"With Mark Schwarzer signing a new deal recently, I think it's very likely that my days at the Riverside are numbered. I enjoy it here but I can't sit on the bench for much longer."

While Nash was beaten twice as Boro suffered yet another Sunday stutter last weekend, he had little to do other than pick the ball out of the back of the net.

The deflection on Matt Holland's first-half strike left him helpless, while Shaun Bartlett was given the freedom of the 18-yard box as he fired Charlton ahead again with ten minutes left.

With Aston Villa boasting the likes of Juan Pablo Angel and Darius Vassell, McClaren will be urging his defenders to tighten up as Boro look for their fifth Premiership away win this weekend.

But, while Nash is understandably keen to keep a clean sheet on Saturday, he is also hoping for the opportunity to prove his worth as a shot-stopper.

"Last weekend's 2-2 draw wasn't the result we were hoping for," he said. "But, from a personal point of view, I don't think I could have done anything to prevent the goals that went past me.

"To be honest, I didn't have a lot to do in the game. I remember making one save with my body near the end but, apart from that, all I had to do was concentrate on crosses, organisation and distribution.

"In a way, I wish I'd had more of a chance to shine."

* Danny Graham has thrown down the gauntlet to Middlesbrough's shot-shy strikers by claiming "I'll score goals if I'm given the chance".

The 19-year-old, who was plucked from obscurity after playing junior football with Chester-le-Street, earned Boro a point with an 86th-minute header against Charlton last weekend.

The strike prompted Steve McClaren to step up on-going contract talks and, while Graham is due to become a free agent in the summer, the youngster is poised to put pen to paper on a new deal later this month.

The likes of Stewart Downing, James Morrison and Tony McMahon have already forced their way into Middlesbrough's first-team this season.

And, with Mark Viduka sidelined and both Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Joseph-Desire Job currently struggling for goals, Graham could be the next Teesside teenager to take the Premiership by storm.

"I hope the fans like my style of play because I like to get stuck in and play on players' shoulders," said Graham.

"I've been given a few chances to play lately and I hope I've done well enough with those chances and now I hope I get a few more goals.

"I've missed a few but that's always going to happen and I expect a bit of stick when it doesn't go for me, but I'd like to think I could score a few more."

Unfortunately, Graham can remember little of Saturday's strike as he was temporarily knocked unconscious following a challenge from Charlton defender Chris Perry.

The youngster was forced to ask physio Chris Moseley who had scored the last-gasp leveller and is hoping his next goal proves easier to recall.

"I remember heading the ball and being caught in the face, then I was out cold," said Graham.

"I knew we had scored but I didn't know who and I asked Chris. That was the first time I knew it was me.

"I've been told the fans were chanting my name and that's great but I was still a bit dazed."

l The kick-off time has changed to 7.45pm for the second leg of Boro's UEFA Cup last 16 tie at Sporting Lisbon on March 17.

The game, at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, had been scheduled to kick off at 9.15pm, but the time has been changed at the request of Sporting

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