BOKSIC IS AL OF A PLAYER - RAVANELLI

The White Feather thinks that Boksic will be the best Al in the North East next season, and that the Croatian will be a success in the Premiership, although he still thinks Shearer is the best English striker.

"When I signed for Middlesbrough, Juventus bought Boksic as my replacement," said Ravanelli talking to Riverside Roar. "We are similar in style but I believe we could have played very successfully together in the same way as I did with Vialli.

"Juve play the same way with Boksic and Vieri as they did with Vialli and me. Boksic is performing very well. He is strong, direct and very fast."

"Shearer is the best centre forward from England and has proved himself on the international stage as well as at club level, I think he would do very well if he was to play in Italy but, of course, conditions for forwards are different so it's hard to say how successful he would be."