MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren today faces a battle on two fronts with Manchester United - trying to beat them without more than half a team and talk them into a deal for Dwight Yorke.

McClaren has seven players out of the FA Cup fourth-round clash at the Riverside Stadium and has been forced to call up 17-year-old duo David Murphy and Stewart Downing to bolster his squad.

Former United star Paul Ince is suspended, Alen Boksic (calf), Szilard Nemeth (thigh), Ugo Ehiogu (groin), Gianluca Festa (hamstring) and Phil Stamp (ankle) are injured, and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is still short of fitness after a hernia operation.

With Ehiogu and Festa sidelined and record-breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy in blistering form for United, McClaren admits he has "a headache'' at the centre of defence, where either Jason Gavin or Colin Cooper will line up alongside Gareth Southgate.

Dean Windass, loaned to Sheffield Wednesday earlier this season, is set to make his first start for over four months and partner Noel Whelan in attack.

Whelan has scored three goals in six games, but Boro have managed only seven in their last 12.

And the paucity of goals has prompted former United No 2 McClaren to step up his attempt to land £7m-rated striker Yorke.

The Boro boss yesterday insisted that talks are still ongoing, and further discussions are sure to take place today with opposite number Sir Alex Ferguson.

England Under-21 midfielder Jonathan Greening, who quit United in a £2m move last summer, has joined the chorus of Boro players calling on all parties to agree a deal.

"There's no doubt in my mind that Dwight would be a great signing for us,'' said Greening. "He really is the complete package.

"He can score goals, hold the ball up and his touch and vision are first rate. He already knows me, Mark Wilson, Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu well, so I'm sure he would fit in perfectly. The team spirit here is excellent.

"All the players - and a good proportion of the female population of Teesside - will be hoping he joins us!''

McClaren said: "We're trying to sort things out - it's at a tender stage at the moment.

"Discussions are ongoing involving all parties. We've not agreed a fee with the club or anything with the player.''

McClaren, who lost out to Sir Alex eight days ago in the race for Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, dismissed talk of today's game being a grudge match.

But he sees the tie as "the perfect opportunity'' to avenge the 1-0 Premiership defeat at the Riverside last month.

"They're the only side who have beaten us at home since September and they've improved since they came here,'' said McClaren.

"They won eight on the trot and I don't think they should have lost at home to Liverpool this week.

"They're at their most dangerous after a defeat, so we'll have to be doubly careful.

"They're quite capable of going on another eight or nine-game run.

"I've got two bottles of red wine for Sir Alex coming - a cheap and nasty one and an expensive one, so we'll await the outcome of the game to see which one he gets.

"But I'm looking forward to seeing him again. Whatever happens in football, we'll always remain friends and have a drink afterwards.

"Outside football, you try to maintain a semblance of sanity. You have to separate the business side from everything else, otherwise you would drive yourself mad.

"We've talked about Forlan and I've asked Alex how he is settling in.''

Van Nistelrooy, whose on-off £19.5m move from PSV Eindhoven was completed last summer, became the first player to score in eight successive Premiership games when he grabbed his 28th goal of the season in last week's win over Blackburn.

"I've nothing but praise for Ruud,'' said McClaren. "I was with United when they tried to sign him the first time and he failed his medical.

"I watched him towards the end of last season when he was coming back from his knee injury and he scored two terrific goals.

"He's fitted in so well at United and it's fully justified them paying the money and waiting for the player.''

Read more about the Boro here.