DEAN WINDASS has revealed his frustration at being frozen out of Middlesbrough - and claimed a lack of "bottle'' is the reason for their wretched away form.

Windass joined Sheffield United last month on a free transfer after starting only two games for Boro this season.

In his final appearance at Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup, he led the attack after manager Steve McClaren had axed Massimo Maccarone and Alen Boksic.

Windass responded with a man-of-the-match performance, showing the fire and commitment that had been missing from Boro's frontline.

But it wasn't enough to secure him a place in McClaren plans and less than a fortnight later, he returned to Bramall Lane where he had already spent a successful loan spell this season.

Windass, signed from Bradford City for £1m in March 2001 by the Bryan Robson-Terry Venables regime, said: "Middlesbrough is the only club where I've not played regularly and it was hard and frustrating.

"Then I got the buzz back at Sheffield United, started scoring goals again and was called back to cover over Christmas.

"I was up in the clouds one minute and down in the dirt the next.

"I felt I just needed a five-game run to show I still had something to offer.

"That's what Joseph-Desire Job did and look what happened to him. He was in the gutter last season but came back, got a run and impressed Steve McClaren.

"After the Chelsea game, a lot of the other lads said I was our best player and deserved to be in the next team, but I was dropped.

"I got the feeling that even if I'd scored two or three goals that day it wouldn't have been enough.

"But it was a wrench to leave. I could hardly say goodbye to everyone at the club on the final day and just wanted to get my boots and go.

"I loved everyone there like a brother, from the lads I played with, the backroom staff, the kitmen and the kitchen staff. I loved going there everyday.''

Boro head for Liverpool tomorrow having lost their last ten away games in all competitions and gone 12 hours and 32 minutes without a goal on their League travels.

Windass said: "From the outside looking in, there are not enough players away from home who are big enough to take a kick, get stuck in and they lack bottle sometimes with the exception of the back four and some of the midfield.

"It looks like they believe the game is over if they go one-down and they don't have enough characters prepared to scrap.

"I do know that it is something Steve McClaren, Steve Harrison and Bill Beswick are working on. They are trying to get the mental side spot on to make the team prepared to compete.

"You can sense the fear factor in people's attitude and body language and that was one of the reasons why I was frustrated because I could give that to the team and the club.

"Steve McClaren didn't give me my chance, which I understand and I accept.

"Everyone has their opinion and Steve made his clear.

"But I was happy at the club, I never showed a bad attitude and waited patiently for my chance. Taking it made no difference.''

Windass believes Boro are making progress under McClaren, but still rues the day Robson departed.

He said: "Middlesbrough was a dream come true. I was at Bradford and playing well, but this was the chance to go to a club like Middlesbrough with players like Paul Ince, Alen Boksic, Ugo Ehiogu, Mark Schwarzer, and especially coaches like Terry Venables and Bryan Robson.

"It was the best thing that happened to me in football, and the worst thing for me was when he left. Steve came in and I don't think he ever really fancied me. I was sub every week which I struggled to handle.

"I felt I was going to be dropped and couldn't enjoy it. When I enjoy it I'm a different player.

"Steve is a very good coach and up there with the best like Venables. He likes his young players and you can't fault the policy - it's just harder on older lads like me.

"If I'd been 23 and not 33 I might have stood a better chance. Reach a certain age and apparently you're pointless.

"It's a shame, but he wants young players and when he gets the balance right, Middlesbrough will improve.

"I think he's said he is working to a five-year plan and he is definitely taking the club in the right direction.''

Boro midfielder George Boateng yesterday backed McClaren's buy-young policy following the signings of strikers Michael Ricketts and Malcolm Christie, 24 and 23, and defender Chris Riggott, 22.

Boateng said: "The club have done really well in bringing in some good young players who can improve through the years. The signings were made with a long-term view.''

Boateng also warned Liverpool, victims of an FA Cup giant-killing by Crystal Palace at Anfield this week, that Boro have no fears despite their appalling away sequence.

He said: "It's a difficult game, but not mission impossible. We're not frightened - fear is the spirit of failure."

Read more about Middlesbrough here.