Beware of the dog

Last updated : 18 December 2005 By Editor

In The People, Carrick has promised Boro there will be no let up today when the two sides meet in the Premiership.

"Edgar is not going to give up. That's what he's all about, and he instills that in all the lads. He's won so many things in the game, if you couldn't learn from him it would be a bit of ignorance. If you've been a winner like he is, then you're not going to just see out your career and be happy with second-best. He's here for the fight and to get back in the World Cup squad with Holland is a great achievement for Edgar. He's shown that - he's come here and been right at it from day one."

Teemu Tainio another new recruit from the continent with a similar approach to Davids injured himself against Portsmouth last week and is rated only 50:50 to appear at the Riverside this afternoon.

He said: "It was a little bit scary, I went up to jump for the ball with a Portsmouth player and when I came down I felt something in my knee and couldn't carry on. I had some x-rays and I feel much better now so hopefully I won't be out for too long but although you never know with knee injuries, thankfully it is nothing serious. I have been operated on four times - so I know what injuries are like! The knees are something I haven't had an operation on and hopefully that will stay the same. It is my style of play and if you ever change that you make it difficult for yourself. That is the way I play, sometimes I will get injuries but that is part of the game."

Meanwhile, according to the Sunday Mirror, Boro boss Steve McClaren has told Tottenham to forget any further efforts to sign 21-year-old left winger Stewart Downing, who is currently sidelined following knee surgery.

McClaren insisted there is no chance of Boro parting with the local boy.

"There is no way we would let him go. We are building a club and to lose our best young players would be criminal," he said.