DAVID WHEATER says he and his team-mates have to raise their game to meet the challenge set by the arrival of Boro's new recruits.

The big defender didn't even know if he'd be in the team last weekend after Scotland centre-back Stephen McManus was signed on the eve of the match.

In the event, Gordon Strachan kept faith with the Wheater and Jonathan Grounds partnership and was rewarded with a clean sheet against Bristol City. And Wheater is showing exactly the reaction Strachan would want to the injection of fresh competition into the squad.

"It's not unsettling, you need to raise your game and it makes you work harder," he insisted. "I was thinking the night before the game that I might not be in the team.

"But me and Groundsy stayed in and kept a clean sheet and I think the manager was right to do that after the Doncaster game. Hopefully we can stay in."

McManus brings much-needed experience to the Boro rearguard and Wheater is looking forward to learning from the man Strachan made his captain at Celtic.

"He's captained his country as well so he could be the kind of leader we need," he said.

Midfielder Barry Robson, who will miss tomorrow's game at Ipswich due to suspension, is another player with international experience who knows what the game is all about and he also has the qualities Boro's young squad has been lacking.

"He's already shown that he's a good leader in the changing room as well," said Wheater.

After getting it right at the back last weekend, Wheater hopes the introduction of new attacking talent in Scott McDonald and Lee Miller will help Boro add more threat at the other end.

"On Saturday we kept a clean sheet for the first time in a while and me and Groundsy played well together," he said. "When it came our way we did our job, but credit to the midfielders and attackers, they made the chances but we just didn't take them.

"We need to go into the Ipswich game and get a clean sheet again and hopefully get some goals as well this time."

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