BORO KEEP TABS ON PERSIAN ACE

MIDDLESBROUGH are the latest club to show an interest in Iranian playmaker Ali Karimi.

The influential Pirouzi midfielder is one of the most gifted players in Asia and that has seen both Perugia and Atletico Madrid make bids in the past.

The Italian and Spanish outfits both offered the protege lucrative contracts, but for various reasons both deals collapsed.

Now Karimi is available again and could finally be ready to make a switch to Europe.

Karimi's recent displays for Iran in the World Cup qualifying section have brought him to Boro's attention and although a bid is highly unlikely they may attempt to bring the Persian over to England on trial..

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough's young Australian goalkeeper Brad Jones has ended his loan spell at Irish side Shelbourne, after Boro found out that first choice keeper Steve Williams was not injured.

Shelbourne had told The Teessiders that Williams had a fractured ankle, but now it appears he is back playing and so Boro have called Jones back.