Kris Boyd can have no complaints about axe, insists Bernie Slaven

Middlesbrough legend Bernie Slaven has launched a scathing attack on Scotland striker Kris Boyd - claiming Gordon Strachan was right to drop him.

Scots-born Slaven, who scored 146 goals in seven years for Boro and still follows the club, is angered at being compared to the former Rangers marksman and insists he brings nothing to the team apart from goals. Strachan dropped Boyd from the starting line-up for Tuesday's win over Burnley and Slaven is appalled by the 27-year-old's work rate.

Slaven said: "Boyd has come in and he hasn't done it yet, and so he needed to be dropped for the good of the team. The problem Kris Boyd has is that he doesn't really bring much to the table. People compare him to me but the only thing we really have in common is a left leg.

"I worked harder than he does, I scored more goals than he does and even if I say it myself, I was a better footballer. And if I wasn't scoring, at least I was working hard, getting back, or going wide and putting a few crosses in."

Boyd - who finished top scorer in the SPL three out of the last four seasons - has notched just one goal for Middlesbrough in seven games so far this season and Slaven is not impressed with the summer recruit from Ibrox.

Slaven added: "Apart from a good goals record, Boyd doesn't have much else in his locker.

"He doesn't hold the ball up, he doesn't win headers, he doesn't drop deep and link with midfield, he's not quick, he's not tricky, he doesn't work defences. If he isn't scoring, he adds nothing to the team. And right now he isn't scoring. So Strachan was right to change things - but now Strachan has a big, big problem because he will have to decide whether to bring him back. If it was me, I wouldn't."

Meawnhile, Scotland midfielder Graham Dorrans is set to return to action with West Brom in their derby clash with Birmingham City tomorrow after being given compassionate leave following a family bereavement. The 23-year-old missed Scotland's narrow 2-1 victory over Liechtenstein at Hampden 10 days ago for personal reasons and was also left out of his club side's draw with Spurs last weekend for the same reasons. However, Dorrans returned to training earlier this week and, after monitoring the former Livingston player, West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo said: "Graham Dorrans has been training this week so he will be available. He is all right."

• Preston manager Darren Ferguson has been handed a three-match touchline ban by the FA after he admitted improper conduct. Ferguson was charged with aggravated by insulting and/or abusive language and behaviour following his conduct towards referee Kevin Friend in the tunnel after Preston's 4-3 defeat at Burnley last weekend. Ferguson was also fined 4,000.