Middlesbrough striker Scott McDonald is determined to build a strong on-field partnership with new boy Lukas Jutkiewicz.

The Australian returned to action with a late cameo in the weekend's draw at Brighton & Hove Albion after two months on the sidelines with a knee injury but now he is back, he wants to strike up a dangerous pairing with the former Coventry City man.

"I really do feel I can build a partnership with Lukas", McDonald told the Northern Echo.

"I've said it before but he's my type of player, he's a targetman, the evidence is there within ten seconds of coming on on Saturday, I played him in and he hit the post.

"That's where my success came when I was a Celtic player, playing off a bigger man."

And McDonald admits it is nice to be back on the park and is looking forward to regular action although he is aware it may be tough to displace leading scorer Marvin Emnes.

"I'm just happy to be playing, though. Whether it's playing up top, in behind, or out left which I've done this season," he added.

"It's up to the manager what he wants to do, we've got Marv scoring goals as well, so you can't forget that - it's totally disrespectful if I was to.

"He's done a fantastic job for us and kept us in the fight, so we'll just have to wait and see. There may be games where the gaffer may want to change things around, he's got some good options to have."

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