CLUBS considering approaches for Middlesbrough stars were last night warned to 'keep their hands off' by manager Steve McClaren.

The core of Boro's starting XI-- Mark Schwarzer, Gareth Southgate, Ugo Ehiogu and George Boateng - have all been linked with summer moves in recent months.

The latest club to have cast an admiring eye over Southgate is Scottish Premier League side Rangers.

But McClaren is determined to keep hold of his skipper along with the rest of his key players.

"There's no reason why they won't be here," said the Boro chief, who released Australian defender Tony Vidmar this week.

"I'm confident they'll be here because they can see where we are going at this club.

"They can see the progress that is being made and they can see that we have gone on from relegation trouble last season to being safe, and as high as third this season.

"At times we have looked at European places and we have never really thought about relegation. Middlesbrough have not known that for a long, long time.

"So the likes of Gareth, Ugo and George can see that, they all can."

Out-of-sorts striker Michael Ricketts, who returned to the side at Birmingham City last Saturday, will be missing again against Tottenham this afternoon.

Ricketts has struggled to find full fitness since making the switch from Bolton in January and has yet to score his first goal for his new club.

But, with a hard training schedule planned in pre-season, McClaren believes the one-cap England front-man can produce the goods when the Premiership campaign restarts in August.

"Next season is going to be a massive one for Michael, as it is for the rest of this football club," said the Boro chief.

"When Michael came in we knew he was going to need work and he will be worked on during the summer."

Boro play their last home game of the season this afternoon when Spurs visit Teesside.

In the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane in September, Boro won 3-0 and McClaren hails that performance as the best his side have produced this season.

And the former Manchester United No 2 is hoping Boro fans will see a similar display today from his players - and in the process help boost season-ticket sales for the next campaign.

"The last two performances (against Birmingham and West Ham) have been unacceptable, but before that we were eight games unbeaten," said McClaren, whose side have lost their last three matches.

"We had a great performance against Arsenal and we have had an excellent home record this season, we have lost just two games.

"The fans are coming back, we are filling the stadium again. We are pleased with that and we want to achieve our targets.

"We have two games to go and we want to finish as high as possible. We want to make sure we give the fans a performance that makes them want to go out and renew their season tickets."

Boro striker Malcolm Christie will play today despite his hernia injury.

The former Derby County man is due to undergo an operation just two days after the match at relegation-threatened Bolton a week tomorrow.

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