I want Jimmy to stay – McClaren

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren has said he wants to keep Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at the Riverside after the Dutchman’s contact expires at the end of the season.

Just two weeks ago, Hasselbaink revealed that no-one had mentioned a new contract to him, and he admitted that he becoming increasingly-convinced that he would be plying his trade elsewhere next season.

But McClaren has been singing Hasselbaink’s praises in the press – even comparing him to former Manchester United legend Roy Keane.

He said: "Most definitely we will be sitting down with Jimmy at the end of the season, whatever happens. He is a fantastic pro who has done really well for this club over the last two years. When he is out on the training pitch he works as hard as anybody, and he is very disappointed when he doesn't play in games.

"He is like Roy Keane. He just wants to win, be it five-a-sides or anything. They don't think about the future. They just want to win every game and in every situation."

Hasselbaink has been in fine scoring form recently, and his build-up play as been at times outstanding, although sadly overlooked at times. There are not many players of his quality, and it’s hard to imagine who could replace him if he left the Riverside.

Boro’s success this season needs to continue next year, and keeping the key players is an important part of that. It’s looking more and more likely that Steve McClaren will be the England manager by the start of the next season, so surely it would be better for the new boss to have established players around him.

It might turn into a question of finances, however, as the money that is being spent on Hasselbaink’s wages could go towards bringing in fresh faces – and it’s possible that a new manager would want to do that.

At the moment it’s all hypothetical, but one thing that is certain is that as long as Jimmy is wearing a Middlesbrough shirt, he will give 100 per cent commitment to the cause, hopefully picking up one or two cup-winners medals as he does.

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