Maccarone's last chance

14 April 2012

Massimo Maccarone had the football world at his feet when he moved to Middlesbrough four-and-a-half years ago. The Italian, who cost a then club record £8.15million, now has four weeks to save his career in this country.

That he even has the opportunity is down to the two toes Mark Viduka broke against Newcastle a fortnight ago.

Maccarone's standing could not have been much higher when Steve McClaren signed him from Empoli back in 2002. He had just scored against England at Elland Road and seasoned observers in Italy rued the loss of such a young prospect, blaming the influx of foreigners to Serie A for driving such a talent abroad.

But the potential remains unfulfilled, despite his UEFA Cup heroics last season. Maccarone now has a month to prove he has a future under Gareth Southgate. The timing could not be much better with his contract due to expire in the summer.

"This is the opportunity he has been waiting for,' said Southgate. 'We have not discussed him leaving. I said at the beginning of the season, everyone starts with a clean slate.

"I have a lot of belief in his talent. He has not had an extended run in the side for all the time he has been here. That would be his frustration. Sometimes forwards need a run in the team, it is not one game or you are out.

"Over the next period he has an opportunity to show what he is about and what he can do. The fee is irrelevant to him and to me, he didn't decide the fee and neither did I. He was a young, talented player, leaving home at a very young age. It is not easy to do. Now I am ready to be influenced by him."

Maccarone will be asked to score the goals at Watford on Saturday to fire Boro away from their lowly League position.

Southgate added: "He has been frustrated at not playing. He gets on well with the rest of the players and has plenty of friends in the dressing-room. He is used to living here. When he first moved, it was very difficult for him. He didn't know people, he didn't know the language and he was on his own. He has overcome a lot and will be stronger for it."

Southgate's route to becoming a Premiership manager could not be more different to his rival, Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd. Straight in as a top-flight boss, well-liked as a captain and former England defender, Southgate will not know too much about the dirty end - the world Boothroyd inhabited after bumping along football's ocean bed in the lower divisions as a player with the likes of Huddersfield, Bristol Rovers, Mansfield and Peterborough.

But would Boothroyd have swapped wiping kids noses as youth coach at Peterborough, Norwich, West Bromwich and Leeds for the seamless move from top player to top manager? No way. Is there just a bit of envy for Southgate?

"No, because I've got more experience at the s*** end and that's going to help me," said Boothroyd. "You've got to have time in the trenches. It helps you.

"Being that top player is a massive strength because you get all those international experiences and you're around great managers and top players - and that's a big difference. The weakness is you never have to go into a hostel in the middle of Peterborough and sort out two players who have had a fight, and somebody's brought a bird back.

"I consider myself very lucky to have been around the grass roots, to be around young hopefuls and their parents. That's why I'm happy, I thrive on this. This is what I've always wanted to do and I've come through the other end."

Southgate will be on the Premier League agenda next week as he has still not sat for his UEFA Pro Licence. The 12-week dispensation he had after taking over from McClaren is about to expire.

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