Job's Boro future safe says McClaren

Fustrated forward Joseph-Desire Job, pictured fending off Arsenal's Kolo Toure during an earlier league match, has been told to forget any plans he has to leave Middlesbrough after the Cameroon struck twice within a matter of minutes in their win over Norwich

Frustrated forward Joseph-Desire Job has been told to forget any plans he has to leave Middlesbrough after the Cameroon international struck twice within a matter of minutes to secure a 2-0 Premiership victory over Norwich.

Job has become increasingly unhappy at being confined to a cameo role, and fears he may have to leave to find regular first team football as he struggles to find a way past manager Steve McClaren's preferred forward pairing of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Australia ace Mark Viduka.

However, the former Lens forward made the most of a rare start in the absence of the injured Viduka to underline his claims for a greater involvement by scoring for the third consecutive home game.

McClaren, after a deserved win at the Riverside here Tuesday, said: "It was a big game for Joe because he's not had many chances this season, but he's always done very well when called upon.

"He got his chance when the pressure was on and he's delivered to show how important he is to us."

Boro strengthened their grip on fifth place to remain on target to beat their best Premiership finish of ninth almost six years ago, as last season's League Cup winners rounded-off a highly successful 2004 in winning style.

McClaren - whose side face Manchester United and leaders Chelsea in their next two Premiership games - added: "It's been a great year for us and only time will tell if we can continue our improvement in 2005.

"Norwich made it difficult for us and we had to show great patience, but it was only a matter of time before we got our rewards if we kept doing the right things."

McClaren had demanded an improvement on the insipid Boxing Day display that ended in a 2-0 defeat at Birmingham City.

However, a dogged defensive display from relegation-haunted Norwich threatened to frustrate the hosts in front of a record Riverside crowd of 34,836.

But Job was allowed the freedom of Norwich's penalty area twice at the outset of the second-half to ensure Middlesbrough's Champions League aspirations, courtesy of a top four finish, remain very much alive.

Norwich undid their sterling defensive work of the first-half as their back four collectively stood and watched a 53rd-minute Stewart Downing free-kick float over to the far post where an unmarked Job had little trouble in breaking the deadlock with a left-foot volley from five yards.

Nigel Worthington's side, who dropped back into the relegation zone as a result of this defeat, were still coming to terms with that goal when they conceded a second.

Again they were found wanting down their right flank as a routine Frank Queudrue ball found Job's run into the area.

Faced with on-rushing England goalkeeper Robert Green, the Middlesbrough forward, six yards out, simply passed the ball through Green's legs to seal victory.

In addition to a fifth Premiership away defeat of the campaign, Worthington was left to contemplate a self-inflicted addition to the club's mounting casualty list, which reached double figures following the early loss of Denmark international midfielder Thomas Helveg, who was led dazed from the field after a sickening clash of heads with team-mate Gary Doherty.

Worthington said: "Our workrate and commitment were never in question but we fell asleep for the goals. We're making enough chances, but we're just not taking them."