TERRY VENABLES is backing a fully-fit Alen Boksic to boost Middlesbrough's Premiership survival struggle.

Boksic is easing his way back after enduring a stop-start first season on Teesside with niggling knee and hamstring problems.

The £2.5m Croatian striker managed a 75-minute run-out on his comeback in the weekend draw at Tottenham following a four-week lay-off, and put in a similar stint in the crucial Boxing Day home win over Liverpool.

Head coach Venables, who has led Boro on an unbeaten three-match run which has produced seven points, is now hoping the former Lazio star stays injury-free to recapture the goal-scoring form that marked his arrival in the English game.

Boksic, lured in the summer by manager Bryan Robson, boasted five goals from as many starts before being hurt in the 3-1 home defeat by Newcastle at the end of September.

The 30-year-old has now failed to score in his last five starts, but Venables knows he has a potentially potent weapon in his armoury.

"He'll be a good player for us if we can get him playing regularly,'' admitted Venables. "His fitness is something he's worked on really hard. He was tired against Liverpool and that's why he came off.

"He's still not 100 per cent but he played longer than I thought he would at Tottenham. I thought we'd only get 60 minutes from him there.

"He's had injury problems and you have to take that into consideration.''

Venables was forced to make a double change against Liverpool when defender Steve Vickers and midfielder Robbie Mustoe were ruled out.

"At a time when I've been talking about whether we should have a winter break to get players back from injury, we're playing more games than normal,'' said Venables.

"It's unbelievable - the reverse of what every other country is doing at the moment - and it puts tremendous pressure on everyone.

"We've got two games coming up in three days and I thought it was better to rest Robbie because the more bodies we have for those two games, the better. He's had a virus and he's had treatment on his back since the Tottenham game.

"Steve got injured there which was a shame because he's been outstanding for us in the last few games. He might be OK for the game against Coventry here on Saturday, or maybe the one at Leeds on New Year's Day.

"Keith O'Neill has been playing with injuries and Paul Okon has been a good influence even though he had such a long time out this season. He's played three games on the trot in ten days or so, which is asking a lot. He tired against Liverpool, but then he came again late on.

"The players have had a bit of a battering this year in one way and another, and a lot of them are pushing the boat out to put the energy and work levels into their game.''

French midfielder Christian Karembeu proved an unlikely match-winner on Tuesday, but was forced to make way for 20-year-old debutant Mark Hudson midway through the second half.

Bishop Auckland-born Hudson is among the emerging talent at the Riverside and Venables revealed: "I've asked Bryan and the backroom staff non-stop about the younger players and Mark is one you feel good about. His temperament was terrific when he went on. He passed the ball nicely and did his job.

"He was in once and if he'd got the pass he could have had an attempt on goal.''