MIDDLESBROUGH'S friendly with Mansfield Town was a game billed as Gareth Southgate's debut, but it was two of last season's foreigners who will have given manager Steve McClaren most encouragement.

Overseas pair Carlos Marinelli and Joseph-Desire Job delighted both sets of supporters during the Teessiders' 3-2 win at Field Mill, and will surely have forced their way into McClaren's plans for the forthcoming Premiership campaign.

And Boro's £6.5m summer signing Southgate admits that the duo have impressed him since his arrival from Aston Villa earlier this month.

"Carlos has got wonderful dribbling skills and he took his goal very well," said Southgate, who witnessed Marinelli score a superb winner on 73 minutes after the Argentinian came on as a second-half substitute.

"I have been impressed with a few of the younger lads since I arrived and Joseph is another of them.

"He, again, has tremendous ability and he is one of those players who you don't know what they are going to do next. Joseph is sure to get us goals, he could have had a couple here."

Job was tried in the vacant right-midfield slot for the first half of the pre-season clash, and he impressed with good link up play with forwards Alen Boksic and Hamilton Ricard.

At times he tended to drift inside because of his natural striker instincts and that meant the width McClaren was looking for was often missing.

But the 23-year-old showed his undoubted creative talent and he played a part in all three Boro goals.

On four minutes the £3m capture from RC Lens a year ago cut inside and played the ball to Boksic.

The Croatian chipped a delightful ball to Ricard who placed his shot past keeper Kevin Pilkington with ease.

And, after Mansfield had drawn level through Shayne Bradley, Job turned provider again when, from the right, he played through Boksic who scored with one of his trademark chips.

Resilient and hard-working Mansfield did not give up though and equalised a second time when unmarked Chris Greenacre headed a Wayne Corden cross beyond Boro's Mark Crossley.

But Job, now in his familiar forward role, had one last contribution to make before being replaced by Brian Deane.

The little Cameroon international found Marinelli on the right and the 19-year-old former Boca Juniors youngster cut inside David Jervis and struck a superb left-foot shot into Pilkington's bottom right-hand corner.

Both Job and Marinelli had their problems last year under ex-boss Bryan Robson but they have already shown signs of brilliance to McClaren, who must surely be considering at least one of them for the opening game of the season against Arsenal.

Southgate's first match for his new club was not one he will want to remember with Mansfield forwards Bradley and Greenacre causing plenty of problems.

The Stags' front line were not afraid to attack England internationals Southgate and Ehiogu, and they could quite easily have scored more than just the one each.

But Southgate believes that the apparent defensive frailties will not be around when Arsenal visit the Riverside.

"The goals that we gave away would not be given away in three or four weeks' time," said the 30-year-old.

"This was our first pre-season match so things are bound to be a little rusty.

"There were plenty of positive things that we can take from the game.

"The Mansfield forwards really did look quite good and they gave us a bit of a battle, but the Mansfield side should not be underestimated because they have got good movement."

Billy Dearden's team are sure to cause a few problems to North-East sides Hartlepool and Darlington this season, and it was not just the front line that looked exciting.

Young midfielders Lee Williamson and Craig Disley were a match for experienced Boro stars Paul Ince and Robbie Mustoe.