MIDDLESBROUGH stalwart Colin Cooper is bracing himself for the axe as Ugo Ehiogu lines up a Christmas comeback.

Boro manager Steve McClaren has hailed Cooper as his signing of the summer after persuading the defender to agree a new one-year contract.

McClaren's faith has been richly rewarded as 36-year-old Cooper's wealth of experience and versatility have proved invaluable in trying times.

Ehiogu has been sidelined since May after damaging a posterior cruciate knee ligament, an injury which necessitated an exploratory operation in the United States.

In his absence, Cooper has deputised at centre-half after covering for Franck Queudrue when the left-back was banned at the start of the season.

Cooper has starred in a defence who have now kept four successive clean sheets, equalling their previous best in the Premiership in season 1995-96.

He said: "We are all getting a pat on the back which is great, and the clean sheets are excellent, but we need more wins.

"We have done well recently, but we knew they were games which would shape our season and we needed that to stay in the top half of the table for the duration. We have looked solid.

"I remember joking last season that I wanted Steve to play me more, but never a truer word said than in jest.

"For the first time in the two-and-a-half years since he came, I'm playing centre-half in a back-four and that's my favourite position.

"We had a conversation at the start of the season and he said he needed me to cover all the positions at the back and wanted me to sign a new contract for a year.

"I covered for Franck when he was suspended at the start and then for Ugo, but I know he will come back into the team when he's fit.

"He's back in training now and flying, which is great news, and he won't be far away. I know I might not be playing at Christmas.

"It gets to the stage where you can't argue, but I'm happy to be in the team at the moment and grabbing as many games as I can.''

Cooper, who has had to cope with the death of his two-year-old son Finlay nearly two years ago, is enjoying his football again after coming close to quitting the game in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Now he is closing in on a double career milestone as he looks to the future and a possible move into coaching.

"I'm two away from 700 career games and ten away from 400 for Middlesbrough,'' said Cooper.

"They are my targets. It would mean a great deal to me and my family.

"The manager knows what he will get out of me. I played in a few positions last season and got a little run and enjoyed it.

"The manager said he liked having me around the place, which was nice to hear, and we've played it by ear since then.

"He has said he will support me if I want to go into coaching and invited me to sit in on the coaches' meetings. I'm playing every week and I want that to continue.

"Hopefully I will feel the same in June when this contract runs out, but I know other options are available to me.''