MIDDLESBROUGH stalwart Steve Vickers has urged manager Steve McClaren to either play him or sell him.

The experienced centre-back believes that McClaren is likely to opt for new signing Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu at the heart of the defence.

That means that Vickers, who has been attracting interest from Grimsby Town and Premiership rookies Bolton Wanderers, may have to settle for life in the reserves, something that he is not too keen to do.

And Vickers hopes that, as he only has one-year on his contract remaining, if McClaren is not going to offer him a new deal then he will be given a free transfer now.

"I just want to know where I stand and for things to be sorted out as quickly as possible," said Vickers who signed from Tranmere Rovers for £700,000 eight years ago.

"I can understand the fact that when a new manager comes in he will want his own men. He has brought in Gareth and is planning to play 4-4-2 which means there will be six players fighting for two centre-back places.

"Gareth and Ugo are probably going to be first-choice and then there's Colin Cooper, Jason Gavin, Gianluca Festa and myself in reserve.

"At 33 that's no good for me. I would love to stay at the club and if they offered me another year then I would.

"I am from the area and want to help this club do well. But if I don't figure in the manager's plans then I would rather they tell me and let me find a new club now."

Vickers is one of a number of players at Boro whose futures are in doubt, and if McClaren does decide to let the 33-year-old leave then he is confident he can still do a job in the top-flight.

But what he insists is that he does not want to see out the rest of his career playing in the second-string, at Boro or anywhere else.

"I still feel I can do a job in the Premiership," he said. "I feel fit enough and have had many years experience in the top-flight and want to play against the top players.

"I just want to be out there playing and will see what happens."

l Slovakia striker Szilard Nemeth was yesterday named in a Middlesbrough squad for the first time.

The 23-year-old, in a party of 20 for the Lee Cartwright testimonial, travels to Preston after returning to the club following a hernia operation.

Top scorer in Slovakia last season, Nemeth was booked straight in for surgery after failing a test when he arrived on Teesside to start pre-season training last month.

The former Inter Bratislava front man was then sent home to recuperate but is now back and in light training, though Boro may decide to delay his debut further.

Out-of-contract Nemeth was signed by Terry Venables and Bryan Robson in April and Boro are still negotiating over possible compensation that could add up to £3m.

Boro: Beresford, Crossley, Fleming, Gavin, Ehiogu, Vickers, Southgate, Cooper, Gordon, Mustoe, Ince, Okon, O'Neill, Windass, Marinelli, Job, Ricard, Whelan, Deane, Nemeth.

Meanwhile, Boro start negotiations with Rangers winger Allan Johnston today after agreeing a £1m fee.

And they were also pressing ahead with their bid to capture Michael Ball from Everton. Nottingham Forest left-back Jim Brennan was also being linked to the club.

Read more about Middlesbrough FC here.