STEVE McClaren last night insisted that Szilard Nemeth and Joseph-Desire Job have a future at the Riverside, but warned Middlesbrough's two frustrated fringe players they must earn their place in the side.

Both Nemeth and Job expressed their displeasure in the run-up to Saturday's 2-2 draw at Southampton, after managing just a handful of starts between them this term.

Nemeth has started four Premiership games, with Job lining up for just three, and the pair were both named among the substitutes at St Mary's.

But, after watching Nemeth change the game in the final half-hour and Job make a vital late contribution in his seven minutes on the pitch, McClaren dismissed suggestions that the duo could be on their way when the transfer window re-opens at the start of January.

"It was important we got a reaction from Szilard and Joseph," said McClaren, who is expected to enter the transfer market himself next month in an attempt to maintain his side's charge towards the Champions League.

"We were disappointed when they made their thoughts known in the week and told them so. They've got to realise the situation here but, to be fair, they both responded in the right manner.

"There's been a lot said about both Joseph and Szilard - about their roles in the team - but they were magnificent when we needed them.

"They came on and changed the game. With his first touch, Szilard opened the game right up. We felt we would score from that point onwards."

It still needed two dramatic interventions from Stewart Downing to earn a share of the spoils though, with the Boro winger supplying the corner from which Danny Higginbotham headed into his own net before driving home a late leveller in stoppage time.

Downing's contribution led to the inevitable calls for him to be included in Sven-Goran Eriksson's next England squad but, while McClaren fully expects the 20-year-old to make the step up to international level this season, he has demanded more consistency on the club stage first.

"We said at the start of the season that he needed to get into the team first and then think about staying in there," said the Boro boss.

"On the back of his performances, the media have made him the answer for England. But he still needs to play well for us week in, week out."

Harry Redknapp admitted he had pinpointed Downing as Boro's most potent attacking threat and, with just two minutes left, the new Southampton boss was beginning to congratulate himself on a job well done.

"We started a bit edgy and, at half-time, I put Paul Telfer on for (Fabrice) Fernandes because I thought Downing was a threat," he said.

"After that he hardly had a kick - until the end!"

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