TONY Mowbray believes wonder kid striker Alex Nimely can step into the boots of eight-goal Marvin Emnes if the Dutch striker loses his battle with an ankle injury.

Emnes did not train on Tuesday and along with left-back Joe Bennett is rated as a major doubt for the visit of pre-season promotion favourites Leicester City to the Riverside tonight.

But with Manchester City loanee Nimely desperate for an opportunity, Mowbray is not unduly concerned if red hot Emnes misses out. Nimely is an England under-20 international with fearsome pace and an eye for goal – and the Boro boss in convinced he’s ready for the Championship.

“That’s why we brought Alex in. He’s in to play – he’s a young boy at Manchester City who’s opportunities to play there are obviously limited,” Mowbray said.

“If Marvin doesn’t make it the opportunity will be there for him.

“He’s played some Europa League football – I saw him play against Juventus last season for Man City. He looks good on the training ground – he looks fit, he looks fast and he looks dynamic.

“He certainly knows where the back of the net is but he’s come in at a time when the strikers are working very hard and Marvin in particular has been hitting the back of the net on a regular basis.

“He’s a young boy Man City have put a lot of faith in. He’s played for England under-21s, he’s from Liberia originally and he’s had his second contract at Manchester City so he’s obviously impressing there.

“Yet is he going to play ahead of Aguero, Dzeko, Tevez? It’s obviously very difficult for young strikers there at the moment.”

Unbeaten Boro have enjoyed a flying start to the season but are yet to convince on their own patch with a record of three draws and one victory against struggling Birmingham.