MO BESIC is hoping Middlesbrough use this evening’s Carabao Cup quarter-final with Burton Albion to reclaim a place amongst English football’s big boys.

Boro host their League One opponents at the Riverside looking to secure a place in the last four of the League Cup for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 2004, and set up a semi-final clash against Premier League opposition.

Tonight’s game on Teesside pits the only two Football League sides left in the competition against each other, with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham involved in the other quarter-final ties.

Securing promotion back to the Premier League remains Boro’s overriding ambition this season, but having failed to win any of their last four league games, Besic says setting up a Carabao Cup semi-final against leading top-flight opponents would provide a timely boost.

“It would be a big statement if we get through to the semi-finals,” said Besic, who is expected to return to tonight’s starting line-up after missing Saturday’s league defeat at QPR through suspension. “It would be a big game against a big team, shown on television, and I am sure a lot of people would want to watch us.

“If we can get through to the semi-finals, and have two games against one of the big teams in the Premier League, then I am sure it would help us get the name of Middlesbrough back in people’s minds. That would be a big thing for Boro.

“We all want to get promoted, and everyone knows that is the number one aim. But to do that in the same season that we got to the semi-final and hopefully even the final of the cup would be amazing.”

As has been the case in previous rounds, Tony Pulis will make a number of changes to tonight’s starting line-up. However, with Burton languishing in the bottom half of the League One table following their relegation from the Championship last season, the Teessiders will still start as strong favourites to make the last four.

That would set up an enticing two-legged semi-final in January, and provide Boro’s players with an opportunity to test themselves against one of the best teams in the country.

“Since I have been here, Middlesbrough have been in the Championship, so I would like to experience what it would be like for this club to play against one of the really big teams,” said Besic. “The lads speak about their experiences of playing for Boro in the Premier League.

“I’ve talked to George (Friend) about those times, and he said it was really a good time, with everyone at the club really feeling good about themselves. I hope we can get there, and get those times back.

“Obviously, to do that properly, you have to be promoted, but to get to the semi-final of this competition would give us that kind of feeling for a bit. It would be nice to bring Boro back to the top four – or at least the top four in this competition. That would be a big thing.”

The League Cup remains the only major trophy Middlesbrough have lifted, and the memories of 2004’s success in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium remain as powerful as ever.

Stewart Downing provides a playing link to Boro’s Carling Cup final win over Bolton – the 34-year-old was an unused substitute almost a decade-and-a-half ago – and reminders of a golden afternoon in the Welsh capital are scattered around the club’s Rockliffe Park training ground.

“You’re reminded of it all the time here,” said Besic. “Whenever we go to have lunch, we see the picture of the chairman celebrating on the pitch. We see it every day.

“It’s a very big thing of course, but it’s still a long way before we can think about repeating it. We have to beat Burton, then we would have to get through a semi-final and win the final too. That’s still a long way off. We just have to focus on this game.”

Burton travel to Teesside on the back of a weekend league defeat at Fleetwood Town, and Nigel Clough’s side are currently 11 points adrift of the play-off places in League One.

They caused Boro problems last season though, with Britt Assombalonga’s 90th-minute equaliser at the Pirelli Stadium in April salvaging a draw from a game that had seen Pulis’ side comprehensively outplayed.

“We had a difficult game against them last season,” said Besic. “They were very good on the ball, and although I have not really seen much of them this season, I expect they will be the same.

“If we are not on the front foot, it will be really difficult for us. We have to be positive and play our own game. Hopefully, we have learned from the mistakes of the last few weeks, when the results have not been too good.”

Besic played in April’s game in Staffordshire, and having re-joined Boro on a second loan deal in the summer, the Bosnian is keen to make a permanent move from Everton at the end of the current campaign.

“I hope I can have a long-term future here, that is why I came back this summer,” he said. “I want to get promoted and play for Middlesbrough in the Premier League. That is the main aim, and then if we can get to the semi-finals too, that would be a nice experience as well.”

Middlesbrough (possible, 4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; McNair, Ayala, Batth, Friend;  Wing, Leadbitter, Besic; Braithwaite, Fletcher, Tavernier.