FRANCK QUEUDRUE has suggested Middlesbrough's season will be a failure if a place in the top six for the first time in the club's Premiership history is not achieved.

After Boro's opening four games, Steve McClaren's men sit fifth in the table having lost just once - to champions Arsenal at Highbury.

Birmingham City visit the Riverside on Saturday and another favourable result will strengthen many pundits' belief that the Teessiders have a genuine chance of claiming a UEFA Cup place via the league this time around.

Despite the campaign being in the early stages, the arrivals of top strikers Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka have increased the level of expectation around the club.

And Queudrue, who recently signed a new five year deal, is convinced Boro can better the ninth-placed finish achieved by Bryan Robson's team in 1999.

"I don't see any reason why we can't get into the top six," said Queudrue. "That has to be our objective and there is every chance that we can do it.

"Every club wants to finish as high up in the league as possible and we are no different. If we can play as well as we know we can and we attack teams instead of sitting off then I think we can do it.

"We have the strikers who can score goals. Jimmy has already scored three in four games and I'm pleased for him. Mark Viduka will also get goals, as will Joseph Job and Szilard Nemeth."

Queudrue also sympathised with summer recruit Michael Reiziger who is ruled out of action until after Christmas.

The Dutchman fell awkward on a troublesome shoulder injury and was operated on in Switzerland 11 days ago.

And Queudrue said: "He is going to miss a lot of games for us. He will also miss the first round of the UEFA Cup (against Banik Ostrava) and that will be a great experience for this club. I feel very sorry for him."

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