STEVE McCLAREN has singled out Argentinian Carlos Marinelli as a star in the making at Middlesbrough.

Marinelli was among the goals in the youthful Boro line-up that won 4-1 at Brentford in the Worthington Cup a fortnight ago.

Manager McClaren has admitted he could use the competition as a breeding ground for Boro's budding talent.

And 20-year-old midfielder Marinelli, signed by McClaren's predecessor Bryan Robson from Boca Juniors for £1.5m three years ago, looks destined to be the pick of the crop.

"He's got everything and it's down to him how far he wants to go in the game,'' enthused McClaren.

"He's improving, he's getting fitter and he's becoming more confident.

"But he's only young and still adapting to the culture in this country.

"He has tremendous ability and we're asking him to produce that talent week-in, week-out.

"The likes of Marinelli, Stuart Parnaby, Mark Wilson, Luke Wilkshire, Stewart Downing and Craig Dove, who all played at Brentford, are young and it's great to have the chance to play them in that sort of game.

"There's David Murphy, too, who unfortunately has been injured. We've got youngsters we need to look at when we can.''

McClaren's next chance to do so could be when Boro visit First Division Ipswich in round three of the Worthington Cup on Wednesday, November 6, though he is certain to name a stronger side than the one that figured at Griffin Park.

* Massimo Maccarone has been called into the Italian squad for tomorrow's game with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

He replaces Fillipo Inzaghi, who has a foot injury. Maccarone, with one cap to his name, was put on stand-by for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.