STEVE McCLAREN turned to Bolo Zenden to ease Middlesbrough's defensive crisis after watching the Holland star play a stunning support role to Marc Overmars in the game with France last week.

Boro manager McClaren, desperate to convert Zenden's season-long loan from Chelsea into a permanent deal this summer, switched the midfielder to left-back in Saturday's 2-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers, and wasn't disappointed.

Zenden maintained his impressive form as a stand-in for ankle injury victim Franck Queudrue, who was one of four Boro defenders ruled out.

McClaren called up 17-year-old left-back Andrew Taylor as cover, but opted for Zenden's experience.

"I saw him play left-back for Holland last week, marauding up and down the line behind Marc Overmars, which is never easy'' said McClaren.

"Bolo has been key for us in the second half of the season and has scored some important goals, like the one in the Carling Cup semi-final here with Arsenal and the penalty in the final at Cardiff against Bolton.

"It took him a while to adjust when he first came here, but he's got stronger and better and we're very impressed and pleased with him.''

With one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, Zenden has admitted that he expects to return to Chelsea at the end of the season, but has an open mind about his future.

McClaren, who has already opened talks with the 27-year-old playmaker, believes that Zenden symbolises the way Boro have begun to gel as a team.

"The players are starting to show a bit of form now, especially the likes of Zenden, Gaizka Mendieta, Juninho, Joseph Job and Massimo Maccarone,'' said McClaren.

"Early in the season, we had Massimo injured, Juninho was in and out of the team and Zenden was just getting used to things here.

"It's a culmination of players coming together and developing as the season has gone on into a good team, and one now capable of scoring goals.''

Boro endured a staggering goal famine in the first half of the season when none of their players scored in open play in nearly ten-and-a-half hours.

But they have managed to hit eight in their last three games and McClaren stressed: "The strikers are providing good competition. They all know they have to perform, otherwise they won't play.

"We've had Job, Maccarone and Malcolm Christie injured. Malcolm is still out after his broken leg and he's only gently jogging at the moment.

"It's easy to forget his contribution in the first third of the season, so having him back next season will be like having a new player.

"Szilard Nemeth keeps coming on as a sub and scoring, and he's proved before that he can do that. Massimo scored a couple of good goals against Birmingham the other week and he's showing more consistency now.

"Obviously we want to improve on this team, not only next season but in the last seven games of this season.

"If we can get better players in for next season, then we will.''

McClaren may hand Nemeth his chance after Job picked up a hamstring injury against Bolton, which is likely to keep him out for at least a fortnight.

There was more bad news for Job when he learned that the Dubious Goals Committee had docked him his equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Everton ten days ago.

They have ruled it should be attributed as an own goal by Joseph Yobo.

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