CHAMPIONS League contenders Panathinaikos were yesterday being linked with a surprise move for Middlesbrough's Alen Boksic.

Reports in Athens claimed a meeting had taken place between the Greek club's officials and the Croatian before their Champions League game with Manchester United this week.

But Panathinaikos last night denied they are planning an approach - and Boro are certain to reject any inquiry.

Boksic has scored five goals in seven starts in an injury-hit spell since a £2.5m move from Lazio to Teesside in the summer.

But he is known to be upset with performances that have produced seven defeats in succession and a bottom-three position in the Premiership.

The World Cup striker became the highest-paid player in the club's history when he moved the Riverside on a four-year contract, announcing that his ambition was to help the club into Europe and to the first major trophy in their history.

But the season has been disastrous so far, with Boro still without a win at home since March and the fans calling for Bryan Robson to quit.

The Boro boss regards the 30-year-old as his number one player and insisted recently: "Alen has promised to give us four good years."

Greek newspapers were reporting that Boksic was at the team hotel near Manchester to see Croatian players in the Panathinaikos squad. And that he was also at a separate hotel where the directors of the club were staying, and that he was in talks with the president, board members and two agents.

But, yesterday, Robson was concentrating on tomorrow's crucial meeting with Bradford City that could decide his future as manager. And he warned his under-achieving players to start delivering.

"Everyone knows how important this game is. We need to get a result," he said. "We have to cut out the stupid mistakes that give a start to almost every team we play.

"I'm losing patience with the kind of goals we're giving away. We haven't kept a clean sheet this season. That's because of lack of application and it's up to the players to start getting it right. They know what's at stake.

"Bradford will be fired up but if my players are not fired up for this one they never will be.

"But we've been saying that for weeks and the situation just can't go on."

Skipper Paul Ince is likely to be back after five games out and Mark

Summerbell and Colin Cooper are free from suspension. But Gary Pallister is a major doubt