THE man who fired Leeds United to a semi-final on the European stage now wants to repeat his heroics and help Middlesbrough go that one step further.

Mark Viduka was Leeds' main man three years ago when he scored the goals to secure a place in the last four of the Champions League - only to be thwarted by a Gaizka Mendieta-inspired Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium.

And tonight, having shrugged off a hamstring and back problem, Viduka is keen to receive the call-up from manager Steve McClaren to return to action for Boro's first UEFA Cup group stage match against Greek side Egaleo.

Having missed out on the club's ground-breaking first-round trip to the Czech Republic, the 28-year-old front-man is now focused on making a name for himself again after a month on the sidelines.

And Viduka - looking forward to future group matches with Lazio, Partizan Belgrade and Villarreal - would love to make sure Middlesbrough book their place in the last 32 then, hopefully, try to push claims for a final place come May.

"I love European games and going to these places is a big buzz," said Viduka, who scored two in the first leg win over Banik Ostrava in the first round, first leg at the Riverside.

"This team has all the ingredients to match what Leeds did in Europe when I was at Elland Road. With every game we are getting stronger and stronger. Hopefully we have had our bout of injuries and suspensions and we can keep playing games with the same team.

"If we can be united and refrain from the chopping and changing we will do well and we could do well in Europe."

Whether Viduka, who boarded the plane at Durham Tees-Valley airport yesterday, plays tonight or makes his comeback against Portsmouth on Sunday will be a decision that rests with McClaren.

But the man from Down Under believes he is ready to reform the exciting front partnership with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in attack.

The pair have enjoyed a goal-laden start to life on Teesside, having arrived in the summer, and are already widely regarded as one of the most dangerous strikeforces in the Premiership.

Viduka has grabbed five goals in four appearances after joining in a £4.5m deal, while Hasselbaink's super second-half hat-trick at Blackburn on Saturday took his tally to seven in as many matches since signing on a free transfer.

The two players have only started four games together at Middlesbrough - with at least one of the duo finding the net on each occasion - and Viduka has seen enough of Hasselbaink to realise just what a star striker McClaren has at his disposal.

"Jimmy's record so far is first class and he could be one of my best ever strike partners. Not only does he score, he sets them up as well. It's great to have a strike partner like that," said Viduka.

"We don't set targets on how many we will score together. The main thing is that we work together for the team and the team works hard for us and for everyone else. It's not just for him or me, it's for us all.

"The stories about him (suggesting the Dutchman was moody and a loner) were just created and they are totally off. He's a very competitive person who doesn't like to lose and maybe that can be misinterpreted sometimes, but he's a great player and no one can deny that. His record speaks for itself."

And Viduka revealed he has had the inside track on opponents Egaleo from international team-mate Joe Skoko. who was part of the Genalerbirligi side that lost to the Greeks in the first round.

"Hopefully we can go there and get the win we need to set us up for the other games," said Viduka. "I don't know much about them but one of my friends played them, Joe, and he says it will be difficult. They will not set out to defend."

* Graeme Souness has offered his backing to the Boro team ahead of tonight's game.

Speaking last night he said: "It would be great if we could both do well.

"Maybe our supporters would disagree but I want everyone in the North-East to do well and I include Sunderland in that.

"If everyone in the North-East is doing well then the area becomes more vibrant so I hope Middlesbrough do well.

"I will be keeping my eye on their game without losing my focus on ours."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.