STEVE McCLAREN says he will have no hesitation in handing young left-winger Adam Johnson his Premiership debut if he needs to.

The Boro boss says the game against Arsenal may come too soon but he has clearly been impressed by the 18-year-old in recent months.

"He's going to be one for the future if he keeps his feet on the ground, there's no doubt about that," he said.

"He's a tough lad, he did well for England in the week. It may be a little bit too early for him - you've seen him, he's six stone wet through - but he's a tough lad and I'd have no hesitation throwing him in if we need to."

Johnson first came to the attention of many Boro fans when he hit a stunning goal against his hometown club Sunderland in the FA Youth Cup at the Riverside last season.

After beating two men he unleashed a wonderful curling shot which dipped just into the top corner of the goal. Our pictuer below shows his goal celebrations.

He came on as a substitute in the away leg against Sporting Lisbon later in the campaign and then made his England U19 debut against Belgium at Darlington in midweek, producing a Man of the Match display in a 3-2 win.

With Stewart Downing out for at least three months, Johnson may not have to wait too long for the chance to show his talents in the Boro first team.

However, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Gaizka Mendieta are still "a week or two" away from a return.

And midweek globe-trotting for Australian internationals Mark Viduka and Mark Schwarzer may further disrupt McClaren's plans.

"We've got three tough games this week and they've been through a lot of travelling. "Mark Viduka's just come in this morning, feeling the affects of the jetlag and feeling a bit stiff so we will have to assess him.

"He's going to be a vital player for us. We want him in our side because when he's in we have a great chance of winning."

Click here to view a larger version of the above photo

One man who is expected to start is Brazilian international Fabio Rochemback, who has impressed McClaren in training over the last two days.

"We haven't scored goals at home and that's disappointing," he said. "But I don't think out forwards have had the service, which is why the signing of Rochemback is so important.

"He's a very creative player and he can score goals and that's something we've been lacking and something I've been searching for all summer. He's the right age and he's one of the future as well as the present."

Boro have now had two weeks to get the last home display, the dismal defeat against Charlton, out of their system, and McClaren says everyone is keen to put things right.

"It's been a long fortnight for more reasons than one and we can't wait for the next game," he said.

"Although we haven't got a good record against Arsenal, records are there to be broken. I always look forward to these opportunities against the big boys because we've got nothing to lose and everything to gain."

Order Boro's new home and away strip online now! Click here for details.