Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia has signed Cameroon international striker Joseph-Desire Job on loan from English Premiership side Middlesbrough in an effort to boost its chances of retaining the AFC Champions League crown.

The 27-year-old joined the Jeddah club on a one-year loan deal after falling out of favor with Middlesbrough manager Steve McLaren. Job has found himself behind Australian Mark Viduka, Dutchman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and newly-signed Aiyegbeni Yakubuin the pecking order at the English outfit, making just one substitute appearance in Middlesbrough's first four matches this season.

McLaren felt that allowing Job to leave was in the striker's best interest.

"We wish Joseph luck in Saudi," said the Middlesbrough manager on the club's official website.

"He is keen to secure a place in Cameroon's squad as they bid to qualify for next summer's World Cup finals.

"Understandably, he needs first-team football, which was something I couldn't guarantee him here," added McLaren.

Job, who scored 22 goals since joining Boro from French side Lens in 2000, offers the six-time Saudi league champion added firepower up front for the upcoming season as it seeks to defend its AFC Champions League and Arab Champions League titles and regain the Saudi league title from Al Hilal.

Ittihad, who defeated South Korean side Seongnam Chunma 6-3 on aggregate in last year's AFC Champions League final, will open thetitle defence with a quarter-final clash against Chinese FA Cup holder Shandong Luneng in mid-September.

Source: Xinhua