MASSIMO MACCARONE last night stunned Middlesbrough by threatening to quit the club unless he wins back his place in the new year.

Boro's £8.15m record signing, who has been demoted to the bench for the last three games after going ten matches without a goal, claims he is being courted by Inter Milan and Juventus in his native Italy, and Spanish giants Barcelona.

The 23-year-old striker joined Boro in the summer from Empoli and made an immediate impact by hitting four goals in his first eight games.

But Boro boss Steve McClaren took him out of the firing line following his fallow run - and Maccarone is far from happy with the decision.

He said: "The coach counts on Szilard Nemeth and Alen Boksic. He says I have to find myself again. At the moment I am on the bench. If this is to be the rule, I would have to leave.

"I know about Inter and Juve. There have been lots of phone calls and contacts. If I had to choose, I know which one I would choose - I have chosen already.

"There is also Barcelona I know about.''

Maccarone's agent, Paolo Fabbri, played down talk of interest from Europe's elite, but confirmed that the Italian international - watched by former Boro striker and Inter scout Marco Branca this season - is considering his future.

Fabbri said: "I don't think either of them (Inter or Juventus) are interested in signing him. They are keeping an eye on him. I don't know anything about Barca.

"He's a very strong character and he will fight for his place. If he can't start, we will see what happens. At the moment, we want him back to his best.

"At the end of January or February, we will look at it again, but only at that time.''

Meanwhile, McClaren yesterday admitted that Noel Whelan is overdue a chance to prove he is the answer to Boro's away-goal famine.

Unbeaten in 11 Premiership home games this season, Boro have now lost their last six League outings on their travels without scoring.

Paradoxically, Boro have one of the best defensive records away from home in the top flight, having conceded 11 goals in ten games this term.

But an output of just four - Aston Villa are the only side to score fewer away from home - has seen Boro slip into mid-table.

McClaren could now turn to the fit-again Whelan in a desperate search for goals.

The former Leeds and Coventry striker, who moved to Boro from Highfield Road for £2m in the summer of 2000, hasn't started a Premiership game since the opening day of the season when the Teessiders drew 0-0 at Southampton.

But, having shaken off a groin injury which denied him a starting role in the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal ten days ago, and played most of the second half in Saturday's 1-0 reverse at Villa, "Noel The Goal'' - the nickname he earned during a scoring spree last season - is in McClaren's thoughts for tomorrow's trip to Blackburn.

"He's definitely in contention,'' said McClaren. "Everyone saw when he came on at Villa that he put himself about. He got into good areas and he's capable of scoring goals as he's shown in the past.

"He's been champing at the bit for a while and possibly deserves an opportunity.

"He's had a lot of little injury niggles. He came on in the home game against Chelsea and played ever so well in the second half, but got one of those niggles. He would have played in the next game against Arsenal.

"But now he's fit and hopefully he can maintain that fitness.''

Alen Boksic, who opened the scoring in the 3-1 home win over Manchester United on Boxing Day, trained yesterday after being "rested'' at the weekend and should be available for the visit to Ewood Park.

Carlos Marinelli was another who returned to training yesterday after being troubled by a thigh strain.

"He's been injured and hasn't even played much in the reserves,'' said McClaren, who dismissed any suggestion that the Argentinian could be loaned out to gain more first-team experience.

McClaren also insists he doesn't expect any incoming deals when the transfer window opens tomorrow.

He said: "I haven't got my eye on anybody. We haven't any money and if anything comes up, maybe a loan, the player would have to be very good to come in here and improve us.''

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