MIDDLESBROUGH new boy Alen Boksic is in a race to be fit for the start of the season.

Boro boss Bryan Robson yesterday unveiled his £2.5m striker then promptly pulled him out of the club's two match trip to Spain.

Robson, whose four year pursuit of the 30 year old Croatia star finally bore fruit last week when he agreed a lucrative from Lazio, wants Boksic to stay behind at Boro's Hurworth base to build up his fitness.

The decision was influenced by Boro's failure to obtain international clearance to play Boksic in Spain.

It means that Boksic, who suffered a serious knee injury in his Lazio days, won't have played a single pre-season game by the time Boro kick-off the new campaign at Coventry a week on Saturday.

Boksic was originally listed in the Boro squad which flew out yesterday for games against Linense, tonight and Real Madrid on Sunday in La Linea.

But Robson, who reckons he has signed "one of the top strikers in the world'' in the speedy Boksic, revealed: "We won't be taking Alen to Spain.

"I've spoken to him about his fitness. He's done ten days' intensive training with Lazio, but while his transfer has been ongoing he's had seven days without training.

"We're going to leave him here with our fitness coaches and he'll rejoin the rest of the lads for training on Monday.''

Robson, however, insisted he had no worries about Boksic's fitness. "Alen's playing record is excellent apart from two years ago when he had problems with his knee,'' said Robson.

"But we've had a thorough medical done and we've been told he should have no problems. Alen's quite happy about his fitness. One serious injury is not much to have had by the time you're 30.''

Robson, who first tried to sign Boksic from Lazio midway through the 1995-96 season, maintains that money is not the motivating factor behind his move.

Boro have refuted claims that the former Juventus frontman is being paid £63,000-a-week over three years.

And Robson said: "I don't think finances played a part at all. Alen had nine years in Italian football and felt it was a new challenge coming to England. Plus he knew I tried to sign him four years ago.

"The reason I failed was that he wasn't ready to leave Rome. He also now knows the reputation of our club, which is growing throughout Europe, and the fact he's come here is a sign of that.''

Boksic admitted he sought the opinion of former Boro stars Fabrizio Ravanelli and Paul Gascoigne before making his decision.

The outspoken Ravanelli consistently sniped at Boro during his tempestuous year on Teesside - but whatever the Italian striker said to Boksic, it didn't put him off.

And Boksic yesterday gave assurance that he won't present Boro with similar problems. "I found out about Middlesbrough from Fabrizio and other players,'' said Boksic. "They said they are a very ambitious club.

"As far as the town and the region are concerned, that's something I will now discover for myself.''

Boro have had plenty of trouble with foreign imports - notably Ravanelli and Brazilian midfielder Emerson - and they now fear losing German ace Christian Ziege to Liverpool.

But Boksic stressed: "Every player has his own opinion - it's down to opinions and attitudes. I'm not really concerned about what other players have done. I want to stay here and win a trophy.

"Wherever I've gone I've always won something - like the Champions' Cup with Marseille and Cup Winners' Cup with Lazio -so I want to do the same with Middlesbrough.''

Boksic joked: "I played with Gazza at Lazio and we're very good friends. It's very important to speak to people who have played for a club before you join because they can help you make a decision- even if Gazza tried to take me with him to Everton!''

Boksic admits he has a lot to learn about English football, but said: "I feel the championship here, together with those in Spain and Italy, is one of the most interesting in the world.

"It's fascinating because of the tradition of English football and in the last few years the Premiership has improved.''

Meanwhile, Robson insisted that Ziege, subject of a £5.5m bid by Liverpool, is "still away making his mind up'' over his future.

Ziege was yesterday named in the Germany squad for Wednesday's friendly against Spain in Hanover.

The Boro squad in Spain is: Schwarzer, Crossley, Fleming, Vickers, Cooper, Pallister, Gavin, O'Neill, Okon, Mustoe, Karembeu, Ricard, Campbell, Whelan, Job, Deane, Ince, Stamp, Maddison, Summerbell