STEVE McCLAREN last night urged former Middlesbrough target Kevin Phillips not to give up on earning an England recall.

Phillips joined Southampton, Boro's opponents this afternoon on the south coast, from Sunderland in a £3.5m deal in the summer.

The move for the Black Cats' post-war record goalscorer, whose last of eight caps came against Holland last year, was a tough one to make as he had already signalled his intentions to try to complete a switch to the Riverside.

However, Boro were not prepared to pay the fee being demanded by Sunderland or the alleged figure being quoted from the player's agent. The Teessiders' reluctance allowed Saints boss Gordon Strachan to muscle in and Phillips was soon being unveiled as the new strike partner for highly-rated James Beattie.

McClaren, a former England coach, is convinced Phillips can catch the attentions of national team manager Sven-Goran Eriksson once again - especially by playing alongside Beattie.

"I don't think it's too late for anybody to get back in the England squad if they have a good campaign," said the Boro boss, who himself is crying out for a 20-goals-a-season man.

"The profile the pair of them are getting by playing together will add to that and I don't see any reason why not.

"Kevin is a good player and I am full of admiration for what he has done in the game and now he's doing well at Southampton. Financially we just couldn't afford him."

Despite the Beattie-Phillips partnership still being in its infancy, they have scored eight goals between them so far.

McClaren warned the pair that there is a massive difference between club and international football. But he does not see why the Southampton strike-force will have any problems adjusting to life in an England shirt because they haven't looked out of place in the past.

"The jump is enormous. There are so many different characteristics you need to become an international player," he said.

"I though Kevin, when he was involved with England, did very well. James has gone in and also done very well.

"But it is a big step and one which both players have had a taste of and will go for again."

Ironically Boro go into today's clash against one of the most feared English-born firing lines without their own respected homegrown central defensive unit.

Gareth Southgate's groin injury sustained against Brighton means neither him nor Ugo Ehiogu will be in action at St Mary's.

But McClaren hopes Southgate's replacement, alongside Colin Cooper at the heart of the defence, will prove he is a more than capable deputy.

"Whoever comes in has to show they can cope with it," said McClaren, who is also still without first team stars Massimo Maccarone and Gaizka Mendieta,

"That's why you have a squad. Colin has done well all season. Somebody said 'who has been your best signing for this season?' I would have to say Colin Cooper.

"He has nearly played in every position and he has never let us down, that's why we wanted to keep him at this football club.

"It's a chance for Chris Riggott or Andrew Davies to step in and prove they are worth their place."

Boro's slight return to form - they have won their last two games by beating Everton and Brighton 1-0 - has coincided with the return from suspension of French full-back Franck Queudrue.

Queudrue missed the club's first five games of the season and McClaren admits the player has already shown why he is so beneficial to his side. "We knew we would miss him and he has shown over the past two games exactly why. He is a character Franck but also a very good player," he said.

"We are looking for consistency in his game and in his discipline because certainly we would have been a better team with him in it.

"There's an over-exuberance in his play at times. But that's just his enthusiasm. There's nothing malicious in his game."