CHRIS RIGGOTT wants to help Middlesbrough secure top spot in UEFA Cup Group D tonight by becoming the club's latest sharpshooter in front of goal.

To hear back-up strikers Massimo Maccarone or Szilard Nemeth utter those words would come as no surprise, but for the reliable centre-back to come out with such a comment is a little more remarkable.

Riggott, yet to find the net this season, believes defenders need to contribute with their fair share of goals if they are to be carrying out their roles properly.

The 25-year-old, a striker in his schoolboy days, scored three times last season and is keen to better that total this time around in a bid to strengthen Boro's chances of succeeding domestically and in Europe.

From Boro's list of defenders, only Franck Queudrue, with two goals, has managed to get his name on the scoresheet in the current campaign and Riggott feels that is not good enough.

And the former Derby centre-back points to Chelsea's John Terry, who has three this season, as the perfect example to follow if he wants his reputation to keep rising.

"I need to start scoring and I know that," said Riggott. "It's something I have looked at with the coaches and on my own. If a centre-back can pop up with five a season it can be massively important.

"Look at Terry. He has shown by knocking in a couple how important defenders' goals can be to the performance of the team.

"I have scored a few in the past and it's a nice attribute to have if you can pop up with a goal as a defender.

"I have not scored this season, although I haven't had that many chances, but it's all about creating space for yourself in the box on corners and things. I have to make sure I try to do that more.

"I played with John when we had England Under-18 trials at Lilleshall. I was 17 and I can remember him from then. He has shown how much he has come on since then. It shows that if you have aspirations to get to that level you can do it. He has been in the world XI and I aspire to get there myself."

If Riggott, who scored two in a 3-1 win over Sunderland in only his second game for the club two seasons ago, can break his duck against Litex Lovech tonight it is likely to mean a Boro win.

Steve McClaren's side are yet to concede in the UEFA Cup this season and know a comprehensive victory is likely to see them top Group D.

Boro's form in the competition is a far cry from their defensive displays domestically, where they have failed to keep a clean sheet in the Premiership since August.

And Riggott feels there have been too many occasions when they have suffered lapses in concentration when they have been on league duty.

"I can't explain why we have been conceding in the Premiership," said Riggott, who will serve a one-match suspension against Tottenham on Sunday after his controversial sending off against Liverpool last weekend.

"At Liverpool we defended pretty well for the majority but it's not good enough when you don't do it for 90 minutes. We have shipped too many goals and we have to make sure we defend more as a team all over the pitch.

"Teams like Chelsea and Liverpoool work hard all over the pitch to make sure you don't get to the second balls. That's a lesson we have to learn. That's how we will improve as a team."

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