JONATHAN Woodgate has attributed Middlesbrough's recent revival to the dedication of the club's coaching staff and claimed his team-mates are inspired to emulate the unstinting efforts of their trainers.

Sunday's last-gasp success over Newcastle made it two wins out of two for the Teessiders, a run that has taken them to within a point of the top half of the Premiership table.

The victory over the Magpies was notable for the manner in which Middlesbrough built up a head of steam in the final 20 minutes of the game.

Gareth Southgate's men appeared determined to give everything for the cause, an attitude that Woodgate feels is mirrored by each and every member of the club's backroom staff.

"We've got a bit of momentum going now and I think we're starting to play well," said the England international, who is in line for an international recall when Steve McClaren names his squad to travel to Holland next month. "It's not rocket science though, it's because we're working so hard on the training pitch.

"It's not just the players that applies to either. Our coaching staff are second to none and the manager's brilliant.

"Every coach at our football club has a job and they all do it perfectly. That's not always the case at some clubs, where you might have some coaches who just sit around all day and pick up their wages.

"We have coaches who work and who are 100 per cent committed to making sure we're absolutely spot on when we go on to that pitch.

"All the backroom staff are right behind us and when they're willing to go that extra yard, you're willing to do it as well. That's one of the things that I've really noticed about Middlesbrough and it's one of the reasons that I'm really glad I came here."

Hard work off the pitch has led to hard work on it, with the club's emerging youngsters at the vanguard of a new ultra-professional approach.

The likes of Lee Cattermole and Andrew Taylor have featured prominently in the first team this season, with their enthusiasm and dedication appearing to rub off on those around them.

"Hard work is bred into the players because it runs all the way through the football club," confirmed Woodgate. "You can see it with the young players, I don't think I've ever seen any of them wanting to hide away or shirk.

"From the youngest of youth-team players to the physios - everyone wants to get stuck in and do their shift. Everything's incredibly professional and that can only be a good thing for the players."

That professionalism has helped to arrest a worrying start to the season in which Boro won just one of their opening seven Premiership matches.

Monday's trip to Manchester City - a side that have won just twice all season - offers an opportunity to extend the current unbeaten run even further.

Confidence is high ahead of the trip to the City of Manchester Stadium, despite Tuesday's confirmation that Mark Viduka would be out of action for six weeks after breaking his toe.

But while Woodgate is optimistic about the future, the 26-year-old has been around the game long enough to know that a little bit of complacency can be a very dangerous thing.

"We're closing in on the top half of the table but we're not going to get carried away with ourselves," he said. "We'll carry on trying to our hardest to continue up the league, but we know that football's a difficult game.

"Just when you think you've got it cracked, it comes back and kicks you. We're confident now, though, and we'll be taking that confidence to Manchester City."

* Boro defender Seb Hines has been included in the England Under-19 squad for their friendly against Switzerland at Crewe Alexandra's Gresty Road on Tuesday November 14.

* Wrexham hope to complete the signing of Boro's 19-year-old forward Tom Craddock in a month-long loan deal.

* Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne admits his team-mates deserved the abuse heaped on them by their own fans at Wigan on Saturday.

Chants of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' rang out from the visitors' end as City slumped to a four-goal defeat.

''The fans are so loyal and behind us that when they do turn on the players, it is even more noticeable and hits us quite hard,'' said Dunne.

"Having said that, it is what we should expect and what we deserve."

However, there is a glimmer of hope for City ahead of Monday's televised encounter with Middlesbrough. After an horrendous injury list for most of the campaign, manager Stuart Pearce may suddenly have a few options.

As many as five of his injured stars could be available to face Boro, with Ben Thatcher also available after his eight-match ban