MIDDLESBROUGH have hastened Juninho's exit from the Riverside Stadium by naming him in a reserve side that will travel to York City tonight.

Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Michael Reiziger are all in line to make their debuts at Rotherham as Boro's senior squad make their pre-season bow.

But, while the club's new arrivals run out at Millmoor, Juninho will be feeling the chill at the more homely surroundings of Bootham Crescent as part of a second string Boro XI.

The World Cup winner will be joined by fellow outcasts Massimo Maccarone and Szilard Nemeth as boss Steve McClaren provides a clear indication of his plans for the forthcoming campaign.

Juninho's position had been called into doubt by the double signing of Viduka and Hasselbaink.

With Joseph-Desire Job also having committed himself to the club this summer, the Brazilian was expected to be restricted to the bench when Middlesbrough kick off their Premiership campaign against Newcastle on August 14.

But this evening's events suggest he might not even make McClaren's 16-man squad for the opening game of the season.

The popular South American issued a 'come and get me plea' to Scottish champions Celtic earlier this month after accepting that his chances of first-team football at the Riverside were likely to be limited.

And he is set to step up his search for new employers after the latest snub of his nine-year association with Middlesbrough.

Juninho first joined the Teessiders in November 1995 and is currently in his third spell at the club.

Maccarone and Nemeth are similarly unsettled after slipping down to fourth and fifth in the striking pecking order.

Slovakian international Nemeth has fallen out of favour since finishing last season as Boro's joint top scorer, while Maccarone has struggled to settle since making a £8.15m move from Empoli in July 2002.

The Italian striker has been linked to a number of clubs in his homeland, but the transfer fee Boro will demand for his services is likely to hamper any possible move.

Meanwhile, McClaren has confirmed that he has made a formal approach for Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour.

The Boro boss is understood to have offered the 31-year-old a lucrative two-year deal in an attempt to prise him away from the Premiership champions.

"We have made an enquiry for Ray Parlour," confirmed McClaren. "But that's as far as it goes."

Boro have turned their attentions back towards the England international after finally admitting defeat in their pursuit of Chelsea midfielder Geremi.

McClaren had hoped to persuade the Cameroon international to leave Stamford Bridge following his successful loan spell on Teesside two years ago.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had been willing to let Geremi leave after informing him that he was not integral to his plans.

But the midfielder has opted to remain in London and Mourinho has promised to give him every chance of winning a first-team place.

"We made an inquiry, but we understand that Geremi is part of Jose Mourinho's plans and is staying at Chelsea," admitted McClaren.

Fellow Chelsea midfielder Bolo Zenden could still be a Middlesbrough player next season though, with chief executive Keith Lamb due to hold further talks with his father Pierre at the end of this week.

l Everton's power battle took another shock turn last night with the resignation of director Arthur Abercromby after ten years on the Goodison Park board, writes PAUL WALKER.

Earlier in the day one of the other three directors, Jon Woods, threw his support behind chairman Bill Kenwright by declaring that colleague Paul Gregg's plans for the future of the club were ''impractical and unworkable''.

Kenwright looks to be in a strong position now to continue his own control of the club - and personal involvement in the discussions with Wayne Rooney's advisors over a new contract for the England youngster.