HUGO VIANA, the midfield player who failed to make an impact after an £8.5 million move from Sporting Lisbon to Newcastle United, returns to the North East tonight with a point to prove.

Viana, who faces Middlesbrough in the Uefa Cup round of 16 first leg, has been pushed out on loan to Sporting Lisbon and believes he will not play for Newcastle again. “My game is not suited to English football but in Portugal I am more comfortable and enjoying football again, playing every week and scoring goals,” he said. “I gave everything for Newcastle but I think everyone agrees it would be better if I left.”

Steve McClaren, the Middlesbrough manager, fears Viana, a member of Portugal’s 2002 World Cup squad as a 19-year-old, will be motivated by being back in the region where he is perceived as an expensive failure.

Viana, signed by Sir Bobby Robson, is part of a team unbeaten away from home in Europe this season and McClaren said: “He’s a good player with great ability. I watched him last week and he did very well. It didn’t happen for him at Newcastle and I don’t know why, you would have to ask them why he has gone back to Lisbon, but he has certainly got a point to prove. He is technically very good and their players are all like that, they’re a team of footballers, great passers of the ball. We’ve done our homework and been over to watch them and they are a very good side.”

Viana has forged an effective link with Leidson, the Brazilian forward who has scored 20 league goals this season. Sporting have scored 15 times in eight Uefa Cup games.

McClaren, though, faces problems not related to the opposition as he tries to steer his club into the quarter-finals in their first season in European competition. His main difficulty is in goal, where the choice lies between Mark Schwarzer and David Knight, an untried 18-year-old. Schwarzer trained yesterday and will have a test on a knee injury this morning. There is also a doubt about Ray Parlour, who has a sore back.

Middlesbrough have taken only seven points from 27 this year and McClaren said: “We’ve got eight first-team players missing and others doubtful. We’re having to play people who should be rested, like Ray, but he may have to play again. If there’s no reaction tomorrow, we will have to throw Schwarzer in, there’s nobody else.

“We’re playing a team with a fantastic record in Europe, they are one of the favourites to win this competition, they’ve just beaten Feyenoord, a very good side, and they score goals. We know our form is not very good, so they will be thinking this is a great chance.

“But that puts the pressure on them, we’re not fancied at all, and we have to try to use that. We have overachieved before and we must do it again, looking to the attitude and spirit that has taken us this far and hoping it takes us further. Our poor run can only last so long and there is no better way to turn it round than to win this tie.”

Middlesbrough have been beaten at home this season only by Chelsea and Manchester United. “We’ve got a good home record and we’re looking for a clean sheet,” McClaren said.

“You don’t necessarily have to win at home, only 50 per cent of the teams that went through in the last round won their home leg. We might have to be patient.”

MIDDLESBROUGH (possible; 4-5-1): M Schwarzer — A McMahon, C Riggott, G Southgate, F Queudrue — S Parnaby, R Parlour, Doriva, B Zenden, S Downing — J F Hasselbaink.

SPORTING LISBON (possible; 4-4-2): Ricardo — Rogerio, J Enakahire, Beto, Rui Jorge — C Martins, F Rochembach, H Viana, J Moutinho — Liedson, Sa Pinto.

Referee: S Farina (Italy).

TELEVISION: Live coverage on Five, from 8pm.

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