STEVE McCLAREN heads back to Old Trafford today acutely aware of the harm Middlesbrough can do to Manchester United's Premiership title defence.

Boro boss McClaren, whose side are preoccupied with the opposite end of the table, summed up the importance of the game by indulging in a little pre-match levity. "If we win, I'll be as popular there as Paul Ince,'' joked McClaren, whose skipper is a hate figure among United fans despite being a member of the championship-winning side which nine years ago laid the foundations for the Red Devils' domination of the English game.

Since then, United have added six more Premiership titles to their collection and this season are seeking an unprecedented fourth successive top-flight crown. As Sir Alex Ferguson's right-hand man during the three previous campaigns, McClaren knows what makes United tick and is convinced they are set to clock up another first.

Their finest hour, of course, came in 1999, just over three months into McClaren's time at Old Trafford, when they lifted the European Cup for only the second occasion to complete a ground-breaking 'treble'.

It was McClaren's Boro who ended United's hopes of repeating that feat this term with a thrilling 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory at the Riverside in January.

A similar result today - Boro famously won 3-2 at the Theatre of Dreams in that 'treble' season - would firmly hand the title initiative to Arsenal, who are otherwise engaged this afternoon at home to Newcastle in their Cup quarter-final replay.

By tomorrow afternoon, the Gunners will have two games in hand on chief rivals United and Liverpool, without the added burden of Champions' League action following their midweek elimination.

But McClaren believes United are on a title roll and that they can gain even greater momentum from reaching the last eight of Europe's premier club competition.

The England coach said: "Arsenal haven't got the distraction of the extra games, but I know from three years ago when we were going for the treble that winning matches and staying in every competition breeds confidence.

"I think Man. United will be on a high going into the quarter-finals of the European Cup knowing they're still in with a chance of the championship.

"Every game is massive now, but there are no better players at handling these games than those they have at Man. United.

"I think they gained strength from people writing them off earlier in the season when they had a blip.

"What other teams should have done was taken advantage of that and gone out of touching distance, but they didn't and they've allowed United back into it and I fully expect them to carry on and win it.''

McClaren admitted: "I can't wait to go back to Old Trafford, although I've been back twice already with England. You forget what a great stage it is for football.

"I keep in touch with Alex and I wish him well - apart from this weekend.

"I know the players and I know the set-up, but that can frighten you because you know what they are capable of doing.

"When they're playing like they are at the moment, sometimes they're unstoppable.

"They're in a rich vein of form. They had a tremendous victory in midweek against Boavista in the Champions' League and they're odds-on to beat us.

"They have weaknesses, but they cover them up and play to their strengths. They attack and score goals - they've scored eight in their last two matches.

"You have to work hard and match them. You have to defend well, your goalkeeper has to have a good game, you need a good referee - and a bit of luck.

"I went there with Derby and we won 3-2, the referee was good and we had a hell of a lot of luck, and I know Middlesbrough have quite a good record at Old Trafford.

"We've just got to make sure we perform like we did against Liverpool here last Saturday. I felt we were a bit unlucky to lose.''

Boro are still only five points clear of a relegation place, but McClaren insisted: "We've put ourselves in a great position to make sure we're safe. We need to get 42 points as quickly as possible.

"This reminds me of the spell we had around Christmas when we played Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle and Arsenal. We lost all of them, but we still came through strong in our beliefs and whatever happens this weekend, we'll be exactly the same.

"It's a great test for our players to see how far we've come. We're hard to beat and we can get something, but there are certain areas where we have to be more ruthless.''

Boro welcome back Ugo Ehiogu to the heart of defence after a two-match ban.

The England international takes the place of the suspended Gianluca Festa. Ince is expected to be fit after contracting the virus which ruled Noel Whelan out of the Liverpool game.

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