TROUBLED Middlesbrough face a race against the clock to obtain international clearance for Gaizka Mendieta to make his debut at Leicester tonight.

Boro will be waiting anxiously today after the Spanish World Cup star was forced to miss Sunday's 4-0 home hammering by Arsenal when the necessary paperwork failed to arrive. A Bank Holiday shutdown at the FA yesterday fuelled Boro's frustration.

Manager Steve McClaren said: "We're relying on FIFA and the FA, so we'll have to wait and see.''

Midfielder Mendieta, signed from Lazio on a one-season loan ahead of a permanent four-year deal, was paraded along with fellow new boy Danny Mills on the Riverside pitch before the Arsenal game. Right-back Mills, on a one-year loan from Leeds, is poised to make his bow this evening as second-bottom Boro desperately seek their first points of the season.

Already, Gareth Southgate's disillusionment with life on Teesside is growing after the skipper savaged his side's lack of "fight and spirit'' in the surrender to Arsenal.

Southgate, who also branded the performance of McClaren's men as "unacceptable'', endured a week of torment which began with his omission from the England squad for the friendly against Croatia, and ended with Boro suffering a second successive defeat at the start of their League campaign.

They kicked off with a disappointing 3-2 setback away to Fulham and take on newly-promoted Leicester in the first of two games Southgate warns are "massive''.

Leeds visit the Riverside this Saturday, and Mills is in line for an early reunion after McClaren insisted there is no clause in the agreement barring him from facing Peter Reid's side. McClaren said: "It's up to us and it's up to the player whether he plays.

"There's nothing in the deal to say whether he can play or not. We'll decide that this week.''

With injuries mounting, Boro need all the manpower they can muster.But centre-back Southgate, who has been persistently linked with a move and admitted at the weekend that he is unsure whether he will finish his career with Boro, insists qualities of character are currently shortest in supply.

Southgate, 33 next month, has two years to run on the deal he signed in the summer of 2001 when he became McClaren's first signing in a £6.5m move from Aston Villa. But he is increasingly exasperated with Boro's failure to make a top-flight impact. Arsenal's bravura show underlined the class chasm that exists between the Premiership elite and the likes of Boro.

Southgate said: "I thought we were very poor. They are a class side and I think it showed the gulf between the teams.

"We have a lot of players out injured and now the next two games have become massive for us.

"We have to regroup. We have to show the fight and spirit we didn't have against Arsenal.

"Our performance was unacceptable, but at least we now know what needs to be done. If we were under any illusions, we know now. We have to grow as a team.''

Southgate welcomes the addition of Mills, but admits: "Leicester will fancy their chances. It shows us where we are and how much work needs to be done.

"Danny was an England player just over a year ago, and that shows what a class player he is.''

McClaren, linked with moves for Chelsea winger Boudewijn Zenden and Real Madrid's Pedro Munitis, is hoping Jonathan Greening and Joseph-Desire Job can come back into contention tonight after injury. But Chris Riggott (back) and Szilard Nemeth (ankle) are both doubtful after picking up injuries against Arsenal.

"We just have to dust ourselves down, be positive, and make sure our season starts at Leicester,'' said McClaren, who faces competition from Paris St. Germain for reported loan target Zenden.

MIDDLESBROUGH were back on alert last night when it emerged that Sean Davis's proposed move to Everton had fallen through after the Fulham midfielder failed a medical.

Boro manager Steve McClaren appeared resigned to missing out on Davis after the England Under-21 international had talks at Goodison Park.

But Everton boss Dave Moyes revealed that an examination of Davis's knee had raised concerns about his fitness.

Moyes, who has now switched his sights to Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson, said: "After close inspection, it is apparent that Sean Davis is presently unable to complete a medical prior to the close of the transfer window. With that in mind, we are not able to complete the transfer at present.'' Northern Echo SPORT revealed Boro's interest in Davis five weeks ago and, like Everton, they subsequently agreed a £5m-plus fee with Fulham. Now it remains to be seen whether McClaren revives his attempt to sign the 23-year-old ahead of this weekend's transfer deadline.

* Former Boro midfielder Emerson, most recently with Atletico Madrid, has agreed to join Wolves subject to passing a medical and receiving a work permit.

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