OLD BOY Gary Walsh yesterday answered a distress call from Middlesbrough after Mark Bosnich turned down a loan move to the Riverside Stadium.

Bryan Robson, faced with a goalkeeping crisis following the loss of broken thumb victim Mark Schwarzer for up to six weeks, failed in a bid to lure out-of-favour Bosnich from Manchester United.

The Boro boss then switched his sights to Bradford City keeper Walsh, who spent two full seasons on Teesside before joining the Bantams almost three years ago in a £300,000 deal.

Ironically, Walsh went to Valley Parade to replace Schwarzer, who linked up with Boro in a £1.5m move in February 1997.

But former Old Trafford keeper Walsh, now playing second fiddle at Bradford to Matt Clarke, jumped at the chance of first-team action with Boro on a one-month agreement and makes his return debut in tomorrow's televised clash with Manchester City at Maine Road.

With Mark Crossley and Marlon Beresford sidelined because of respective hamstring and cartilage problems, and youngster Brad Jones laid low with glandular fever, the loss of Schwarzer left untried 20-year-old Chris Bennion as Boro's only keeper.

Robson, who needed special dispensation from the Premier League to sign 32-year-old Walsh from a rival top-flight club, said: "I don't know what it is about goalkeepers here at the moment.

"But I know Gary will do a good job for us. He's really pleased about the move. The good thing is he's been at the club before and knows quite a lot of the players.

"The only reason Gary left in the first place was to get first-team football, because he knew he was going to be second choice to Mark Schwarzer.

"When you look at Gary's performances for Bradford last year, he did very well for them, so I've every confidence in him.

"It's a blow losing Mark Schwarzer. When Mark Crossley and Marlon Beresford got injured, I said the one thing we could be sure about was that we couldn't be unlucky enough to lose Schwarzer as well.

"It's an unfortunate injury. When a keeper breaks a thumb or finger, it's usually because someone has belted a shot and the ball bends the thumb back.

"But Mark landed awkwardly when he made a save and the thumb bent back and cracked.

"It looks like he'll be out for six weeks, but I would have thought there's a good chance that Mark Crossley will be back in the next couple of weeks.''

Robson can at least count his blessings in defence, where Gary Pallister, Colin Cooper and Keith O'Neill are set to return from injuries to face the dual strike threat of City new boys George Weah and Paulo Wanchope.

"They can score goals out of nothing and that's why you need your best defenders against them,'' said Robson.

"Pally would have been in the England team had he not had problems with his back in the last few years.

"But I'm pleased he's not involved with England because it means he can concentrate on his football for us.

"He was unfortunate with this latest injury because it was a groin strain and I don't think he's had one before - it's always been his knee or his back that have concerned us.

"But he's got a special routine now to strengthen his back and it seems to be working, touch wood!

"When Pally and Colin Cooper are in the team we look a more solid side.''

Robson also reckons skipper Paul Ince will be fired up after being substituted in the 2-1 home defeat by Everton.

The self-styled Guv'nor wasn't happy when he was hauled off and there was a frank exchange of views with Robson in the dressing-room.

But the Boro boss insisted: "There's no chance of us falling out. I've already had the right reaction from Incey this week.

"He's looked bright and sharp in training and I'm sure he'll take that into the game on Sunday.

"I think we're the underdogs in this game.

"I was talking to Peter Reid this week and he said that when Sunderland lost there, City started at a hell of a pace. They tore into Sunderland and I'm sure we can expect that as well.

"Joe Royle has done a tremendous job at City. He's brought them back from the Second Division to the Premiership, which is where they deserve to be.

"They've done quite well this season - they won at Leeds and they were unlucky to lose at Liverpool.''

Striker Alun Armstrong, whose career has been blighted by serious injuries in the last two years, failed to make the Boro squad despite scoring twice in the Reserves' 4-3 win over City at the Riverside on Wednesday.

But Robson explained: "Alun has shown he's near enough back to his best, so he'll come into contention for the Worthington Cup tie with Macclesfield next week.'