MIDDLESBROUGH's Nicky Barmby is set to miss the start of the English Premiership season after being injured in yesterday's uncompromising meeting with Italy's Inter Milan. Over 20,000 fans packed the Riverside Stadium for Willie Maddren's testimonial, and they saw Barmby suffer a calf injury after just six minutes which puts his hopes of facing Liverpool next week in the balance.

Both teams had chances in a match that became increasingly littered with off-the-ball incidents.

Fabrizio Ravanelli, their £7 million summer signing from Juventus, saw his free-kick ruled out by local referee Jeff Winter, who adjudged that a Middlesbrough player had impeded the Italians' defensive wall. Earlier, Curtis Fleming headed off the goal-line from Benetto Carbone before Steve Vickers had a header palmed against an upright.

Former player and manager Willie Maddren, who has sadly been struck down by motor neurone disease, will net around £170,000 from the game. "It's been a very emotional day, but special for me as well. It gives my family financial security," he said.