STEVE McCLAREN is hoping loan signing Benito Carbone can provide Middlesbrough with the inspirational touch that Paolo di Canio brought to West Ham.

Boro boss McClaren insists he is not taking a gamble with controversial Italian itinerant Carbone.

The 30-year-old Bradford City striker yesterday completed an on-off deal which ties him to relegation-threatened Boro until the end of the season, but offers the opportunity to make the move permanent.

Carbone immediately proved he can be as elusive off the field as he is on it when he ducked out of a scheduled appearance at a press conference and sped away from Boro's Hurworth training base.

His only words were saved for an in-house interview with Boro's media department, in which he said: "It's always important for me to play in the Premiership and now I have another chance to play for a big team.

"This one I think is one of the best in the Premiership. I know a lot of the players here like Gareth Southgate, Ugo Ehiogu, Paul Ince, Gianluca Festa and Dean Windass, and I know the coaches Steve Harrison and Paul Barron.''

Carbone, who spent three months on loan at Derby County this season playing alongside former Boro striker Fabrizio Ravanelli, saw a proposed £3m move to Teesside collapse last year on transfer deadline day.

"We tried last year but we could not conclude the contract,'' said Carbone.

"But now I am here and I am happy to come to Middlesbrough.''

With tongue firmly in cheek, McClaren suggested that the colourful Carbone was "a shy lad'', and later added: "He'll do his talking on the pitch.''

Boro pray that Carbone, who is playing for his 11th club, will produce the creative spark they need to climb clear of the Premiership danger zone.

And McClaren believes he could do for Boro what fellow countryman and former Sheffield Wednesday teammate di Canio has done for the Hammers.

"Benito is a typical Italian, who lives the right way and loves his football,'' said McClaren.

"He's similar to di Canio. They are special players who can give you that bit extra when games are tight, like the goalless draw here last weekend against Charlton.

"Sometimes you need someone who can unlock the door and Benito has the ability to do that.

"He's a bit like di Canio in that respect and we hope he has as big an effect here as di Canio has had at West Ham.

"You need a link between the midfield and the front players and Benito can do that. He can score goals, create for others and win a game with a moment of magic.''

Carbone has had his problems with previous managers at Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Bradford.

But McClaren stressed: "We've taken soundings about him as a personality and Steve Harrison and Paul Barron, who worked with him at Villa, spoke very highly of him.

"They said he's a great player and an excellent professional. I'm confident he can fit in. I can see no problems.

"We'll review the situation at the end of the season, but he's certainly got an opportunity to impress and look to make it permanent.''

McClaren was at Grimsby a week ago to see Carbone score a superb free-kick and seal victory for Bradford.

"He's a player I have admired for a long time,'' said McClaren. "I've seen him at Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Bradford, and watched him closely when he went to Derby. We also saw him play against our reserves for Bradford a couple of weeks ago.''

McClaren, who denied he had enquired about Celtic striker John Hartson on the day the Welshman said he had rejected overtures from Boro, admitted he could still make a big-money transfer breakthrough after missing out on major deals for Diego Forlan and Dwight Yorke.

"The search goes on to improve this squad,'' said McClaren. "I would like to think we might do something before the deadline.''

Hartson had said: "I know my agent has been contacted by Middlesbrough, but I'm not interested in going anywhere and that has been made clear to them.''

But McClaren insisted: "I don't know where that's come from - I haven't spoken to anyone about John Hartson.''

Significantly, McClaren was less forthcoming about his £6m link with Leicester City's Muzzy Izzet.

It is understood Boro could use Dean Windass as a makeweight in a bid to secure a deal for the Turkish midfielder.

Meanwhile, striker Alen Boksic (calf) and defender Ugo Ehiogu (groin) are in the reckoning to return from injury to face Leeds at the Riverside this afternoon.

Right-back Robbie Stockdale is ruled out with a hamstring problem, while goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and striker Szilard Nemeth are still short of fitness.

Read more about the Boro here.