MIDDLESBROUGH finally completed the £7.5m capture of Aiyegbeni Yakubu last night after the striker was granted a work permit on appeal.

Boro boss Steve McClaren and chief executive Keith Lamb successfully argued the 22-year-old's case at a hearing in Sheffield to finally bring some cheer to an otherwise downbeat Riverside.

With the Teessiders still reeling from new signing Emanuel Pogatetz's six-month ban, the loss of Bolo Zenden and a fresh row with England international Stewart Downing, the confirmation of Yakubu's signing has at least lifted the mood ahead of tomorrow's departure to a training camp in the Algarve.

Yakubu met his new team-mates at Rockliffe Park yesterday as the Boro squad reassembled for a series of medical and fitness tests.

The Nigeria international has signed a five-year deal and will be officially unveiled at a press conference later this afternoon.

His initial application for a work permit was rejected last week because of his lack of international appearances over the last two years.

But Boro successfully highlighted his unavailability for a number of Nigeria's recent fixtures as a mitigating factor and are now able to turn their attention to other transfer targets.

Most of their time will be spent trying to bolster their midfield as the confirmation of Yakubu's successful appeal came just hours after Zenden completed his move to Liverpool.

The Dutch international turned down the offer of a lucrative two-year deal with Middlesbrough to move to Anfield, much to the disappointment of the Boro board.

"Naturally, we are very disappointed that Bolo has chosen to move on after two very successful and eventful seasons with us," said chief executive Keith Lamb.

"However, we lost him in the same way as we acquired him, as a free agent. That is the nature of the modern game.

"Boro fans can be assured that we did try to keep Bolo here and made him a very substantial offer. Unfortunately, that offer did not match his requirements."

Zenden spent two years on Teesside, initially moving on loan from Chelsea two years ago before signing a permanent one-year deal 12 months later.

He wrote his name into Middlesbrough's history books when he fired home the penalty which ultimately secured their first ever trophy, last year's Carling Cup.

That success led to Boro's maiden European campaign but, despite the club looking forward to more continental competition in next season's UEFA Cup, Zenden has been seduced by life in the Champions League.

The 28-year-old is expected to make his debut for European champions Liverpool in next Wednesday's qualifier against Welsh minnows Total Network Solutions.

"I have played in the Champions League before and it is always a bit nicer than playing in the UEFA Cup," said Zenden, who scored eight goals in 49 games for Boro last season.

"There is a different atmosphere in the stadiums and people look at the whole competition in a different way.

"From what I have been told, the TNS game is already a sell-out. It's a really exciting prospect and I cannot wait to get started."

Zenden's arrival at Anfield could well precede the departure of Steven Gerrard after the Liverpool skipper's agent confirmed talks over his future had broken down.

The left-footer spent most of last season at the heart of Middlesbrough's midfield and is hoping to secure another central role with the Reds.

"There are a lot of quality midfield players at Liverpool but I have not just come here to fill in the gaps," said Zenden.

"I have played in the middle with Boro last year and my main strengths are getting into the box and being creative, so I am looking to do a similar job here.

"When the new European champions knock on the door, the decision is quite easy."

The Dutchman's departure has left a considerable void at the heart of Middlesbrough's midfield, with McClaren poised to step up his interest in Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves in an attempt to plug the gap.

The Boro boss secured one more body yesterday when Brazilian Doriva finally put pen to paper on a new one-year deal.

The 33-year-old, who has been with the club since January 2003, is confident of adding to his tally of 52 Premiership appearances next season.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of another year," he said. "I hope to continue the work I've done here in the past and I'm confident about the season.

"It was an easy decision to sign a new contract because I'm very happy at Middlesbrough. We spoke before I went back to Brazil in the summer and all I had to do was sign when I returned."

* Defender Andrew Davies has joined Derby County on a season-long loan. The 20-year-old, who spent three months of last season on loan at QPR, has been deemed surplus to requirements at the Riverside.