MASSIMO MACCARONE is facing a make-or-break season with Middlesbrough.

The Italian international striker, Boro's £8.15m record buy, knows he must improve on the meagre nine goals he managed in his first term at the Riverside.

Manager Steve McClaren needs to sell an attacking player to advance his interest in Sunderland's £4m-rated frontman Kevin Phillips. Argentinian Carlos Marinelli, attracting the attention of Italian sides Brescia, Sampdoria and Bologna after the collapse of his £1.5m move to Torino, will be sacrificed.

McClaren is also ready to cash in on Noel Whelan, who ended last season on loan at Crystal Palace.

But the pressure is still on Maccarone to fulfil the prophecies which heralded his arrival from Italians Empoli last summer.

A Boro insider said: "Next season is a big season for Massimo, but we fully expect him to come through.

"We know he can do it, and he's happy here. He was still our top scorer and top for assists.''

The 23-year-old forward, relieved to learn he did not need end-of-season surgery for a shoulder problem, confirmed: "I'll stay in England because I know I have a lot more to offer.

"It was a difficult year, but I now want to look to next season and prove myself here."

Meanwhile, Boro midfielder George Boateng is in a battle to be ready for the start of pre-season after undergoing an ankle operation to remove a piece of floating bone. McClaren said: "The operation was relatively routine and he will be back by the time we begin our pre-season, or maybe just after that. He will be in rehabilitation until then.''

Striker Malcolm Christie, who underwent two operations in 72 hours to repair a hernia and have his tonsils removed, is due to step up his fitness drive with a visit to the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.