JOSEPH-DESIRE Job has re-emerged from the shadows at Middlesbrough and proved a point to manager Steve McClaren.

Job, preferred to club record £8.15m signing Massimo Maccarone for Saturday's 3-0 victory over West Brom at the Riverside, provided the assist when Malcolm Christie handed Boro the lead.

The return to fitness of Juninho had been the chief reason for Job losing his place in the starting line-up.

Job had operated behind the front two in the role originally earmarked for Juninho when the Brazilian returned to Teesside from Atletico Madrid in a £3.8m deal last summer after World Cup glory.

During his near-two-month first-team exile, Job declared that he could play alongside Juninho.

And the Cameroon international delivered the proof against West Brom as Christie's frontline foil.

It was in the 1-0 defeat at The Hawthorns in November on the eve of his 25th birthday, that Job suffered a fractured skull in an horrific collision with Albion's Darren Moore.

But he made a dramatic and rapid recovery, returning to action as a substitute at Arsenal only three games later.

Signed by Bryan Robson from Lens for £3m nearly three years ago, Job spent much of last season back in France on loan to Metz.

But with Juninho having missed most of the current campaign after undergoing knee surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Job grabbed the opportunity to resurrect his Riverside career.

Now he is one of five frontmen, along with Christie, Maccarone, Michael Ricketts and Szilard Nemeth, vying for places up front.

McClaren said: "Joseph has done well. He's waited for his chance and I thought he did well on Saturday, although he should have got himself a goal.

"But I thought his performance was very good. He's slipped into the background recently. Unfortunately, we had to change things through results and with Juninho coming back to fitness, Joseph was pushed out a bit.

"But his attitude has been fantastic. He's trained very well and he's proved he can play in the same team as Juninho.

"He's been one of our main players this season after being loaned out last year.''

Meanwhile, Northern Echo Sport understands that Real Madrid are likely to accept a bid of around £6m from Boro for Job's compatriot Geremi.

Real's director of sport, Jorge Valdano, insists the European champions are seeking £9.6m for the midfielder, who is on loan with Boro until the end of the season.

But sources say Real are realistic enough to know they must lower their demands substantially.

* Stoke have thanked Boro for allowing goalkeeper Mark Crossley to stay on loan while they struggle for First Division survival.

Crossley has kept four clean sheets in the last five matches and the Potters' director of football, John Rudge, said: "Steve McClaren has done us a tremendous favour by allowing Mark to remain on loan, and we appreciate the gesture.

"Mark's presence has been tremendous for us. It's good for us and him.

"He wants to keep playing first-team football because it improves his chances of getting back into the Wales team.''

* Former Boro keeper Alan Miller, who was in the side that won promotion to the Premiership under Bryan Robson eight years ago, has been forced to retire with a back injury.

Miller, 33, has made only two appearances for Blackburn since his arrival from West Brom in a £50,000 deal over three years ago.

He said: "When I got the injury, I knew it was serious. I went for a scan and it showed up quite a few problems.

"I had an operation on my back ten or 11 years ago and that went well.

"But this was in the same area and when I knew that, I didn't want it operated on again. I had no real choice but to call it a day.''

One-time England Under-21 international Miller joined Boro from Arsenal for £500,000 in August 1994.

* Boro midfielder Chris Brunt has linked up with the Northern Ireland Under-19 squad for their game against Slovenia.

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