JIMMY-Floyd Hasselbaink could become a Fulham player within the next 48 hours as the closure of the transfer window approaches.

The Middlesbrough striker's opening goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Coventry City may yet prove to be his final strike for the Teesside outfit.

Hasselbaink's contract is due to expire at the end of the season and he is thought to be keen on moving on in a bid to gain more job security.

Fulham, neighbours of his former club Chelsea in London, are understood to be leading the chase and he would welcome a switch back south providing an 18-month deal is on the table.

But Boro boss Steve McClaren knows allowing Hasselbaink to depart would leave him shy of strikers - with just Mark Viduka and Aiyegbeni Yakubu regular members of the match-day squad of 16.

Having allowed Szilard Nemeth to join Strasbourg, McClaren knows only Massimo Maccarone is a realistic alternative to his front two if Hasselbaink was to go.

And the boss who does have Malcolm Christie on his way back towards full fitness, admitted: "We need Jimmy in the dressing room. We want him to stay. There are still days to go.

"His goal was another superb finish at Coventry and that's what we know we can get from him. It's not been easy for him because there has been so much competition for places, and Yakubu and Mark Viduka have been doing well for us.

"Jimmy has had to be patient and he has had to wait but his attitude has been excellent and I wouldn't expect anything else from him."

Saturday was also the occasion when Mark Schwarzer returned as goalkeeper for the first time since withdrawing his transfer request.

And, although he never had to make an exceptional save, he showed good handling when called upon and could do little to prevent Stern John's equaliser.

"It was a disappointment what happened with Mark, but he has worked very hard and he has shown great determination to get back into the side," said McClaren.

"I thought he did very well at Coventry and I have every confidence in him. He showed his commitment to the club when he came off the list. He has reacted in the right way. There was plenty of activity in our box but Mark coped well with it."

Having endured such a rotten run of form in the Premiership, Boro's trip to Coventry had all the makings of an FA Cup shock.

But McClaren, despite not being totally impressed by his side's showing, feels his players showed good 'character'.

"We had to grind our way through the game and we relied on our experience. We need players who will stand up," said McClaren, whose side face Coventry in the replay a week tomorrow.

Ugo Ehiogu has a tight hamstring and is a doubt for Tuesday's trip to Sunderland.