 In July 2004 , Hasselbaink turned down approaches from Fulham , Celtic and Rangers and instead joined Middlesbrough on a two @-@ year contract after a free transfer . Due to several other internationals being signed by the club at the time , he predicted that Middlesbrough could qualify for the Champions League . On 14 August , he scored on his debut for the club in a 2 – 2 draw with Newcastle United at the Riverside Stadium . In the 2004 – 05 season he finished as the club 's top @-@ scorer with 13 goals in 36 Premier League games , including a hat @-@ trick in a 4 – 0 win over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on 16 October . A seventh @-@ place league finish was enough for the club to qualify for the following year 's UEFA Cup . 
