Job opportunities on Teesside

By Tom Rollett

Middlesbrough FC play S.S. Lazio in UEFA Cup Group E on Thursday, with Joseph-Désiré Job vowing to earn a victory for his injured team-mate Gaizka Mendieta.

Free transfer
The Spaniard, released on a free transfer by Lazio, has been denied the chance to face his old team by a knee injury that means he will play no further part this season. "I'm sure Gaizka would have liked to play against his old team," Job told uefa.com. "He would love to show them what a great player he is and that they were wrong to let him go.
 
Valuable experience
"We'll miss Gaizka's experience on a night like this, because he's played at the top level for a long time. He played for Valencia [CF] in many big games, and knows just what you need to succeed in Europe. He'll be hoping we get a win and we'll be doing our best to get it."

Downing on the up
However, in contrast to previous seasons, Job feels Middlesbrough have the squad to compensate for such a loss. He said: "In the past we would have suffered when we lost such a big player, but this season we have some great players to come into the side in his place. One of those is Stewart Downing, who has been impressing everyone. You could see last year what a good player he is and now he's really beginning to fulfil his potential. He scored the winner for us against Egaleo [FC] in our previous UEFA Cup tie and there's no reason he can't do the same against Lazio."

Mighty opponents
The Italian side's financial problems mean they have lost the likes of Jaap Stam and Alessandro Nesta in recent years, but Job is still wary of their talent. "Lazio may have lost a few big players in the past couple of years, but they're still a great team," he said. "When you play against big teams like them you have to be careful because they can cause you trouble at any time. You mustn't be scared of them, though, that is just as bad."

Injury problems
Cameroon forward Job has yet to feature in the UEFA Cup this season due to injury, but now he is itching for a return to the competition in which he made his name. "My hamstring has healed and I'm fully fit again, so I hope I will be involved," he said. "The UEFA Cup is one of my favourite competitions to play in."

Glamour game
Both Lazio and Middlesbrough have made solid starts to the group stage, the Rome outfit earning a draw against Villarreal CF and the Teesside team defeating Egaleo. And while this may be Middlesbrough's most glamorous European tie yet, Job insists defeat would not be a disaster.

Nothing final
"It's an exciting match to be involved in, and one the fans will really enjoy," he said. "But we don't know yet how important it will be. We have two more games to play after this one, and the top three sides in the group all go through. Even if we lose, our fate will still be in our own hands."

Joseph-Désiré Job's personal website is at www.icons.com