MIDDLESBROUGH'S new £7.5m striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu claims to have been struck down by the deadly tropical disease malaria - but expects to have recovered in time to start pre-season training on July 4.

Yakubu was due to have been on international duty tomorrow in Nigeria's vital World Cup qualifying fixture with Rwanda in Kigali but has had to pull out after being laid low by the killer bug.

Since securing a summer move from Portsmouth to the Riverside Stadium last month - the deal will officially go through on July 1 providing he is granted a work permit - the powerful forward has been on his travels.

He spent time in Israel, meeting up with old friends from his former club Maccabi Haifa, before making the trip back to his home country to visit family in Lagos.

But, after being named in the Nigerian squad for the World Cup clash, Yakubu had to pull out after contracting malaria, an infection that can be caught from mosquito bites.

The timing of the illness has caused controversy in Nigeria but the 22-year-old was quoted on a sports radio station in his home city insisting he could do little about his withdrawal.

"I have malaria and I have taken medication. I don't want to go to Kigali and disgrace myself and the country considering the magnitude of the encounter," Yakubu said.

"It is a pity I did not go with them because I love playing for my country, most especially at this big stage. I just hope Nigerians understand me. If I were OK, I would be in Kigali with the team.

"I am feeling better now. For the past three to four days I was not OK. But now I'm better."

One player who Yakubu could replace in the Boro squad next season is Slovakian Szilard Nemeth.

Nemeth is being tracked by CSKA Moscow and has also been linked with a move to West Bromwich Albion.

But the forward, who would be available for a transfer if the right deal came along, has rubbished the suggestion that he has already agreed to move to Russia.

"I was surprised to read these rumours that I would sign for CSKA Moscow," Nemeth said. "All I can say about it is that I can't imagine where this information is based from.

"CSKA have won the UEFA Cup, they play really attractive football and the Russian capital is enthralling, but I'm not sure I'd say yes to an invitation from Russia."

* Boro have dismissed suggestions they are interested in Luis Figo. The 32-year-old Real Madrid midfielder has been linked with several Barclays Premiership clubs after he was told he could leave the Bernabeu.

Boro are determined to recruit players in the 24 to 28-year-old age bracket. "We have absolutely no interest in Figo,'' said chief executive Keith Lamb.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.