MIDDLESBROUGH face a crunch decision over cruciate-victim Juninho this week which could have a crucial bearing on their season.

The Brazilian star, out until the New Year at least after damaging his left knee in a low-profile pre-season tournament in Italy 11 days ago, is still waiting to learn whether he faces surgery in a bid to rescue his campaign.

It was a cruel blow for Juninho, and Boro manager Steve McClaren, when the 29-year-old World Cup winner crumpled to the ground after seemingly suffering a delayed reaction to a challenge in a game against Italian side Modena.

A visit to the Colorado clinic of renowned knee specialist Richard Steadman, who saved the career of Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer and also numbers Juninho's Brazil teammate Ronaldo and Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy among his clients, is understood to be one option Boro are considering.

Juninho, who joined Boro for the third time just over a fortnight ago when he completed a £3.8m return from Atletico Madrid, is undergoing treatment at the Teessiders' Rockliffe Park training base while the club's medical team weigh up the next move.

Boro spokesman Dave Allan said yesterday: "We're still waiting for the knee to settle down.

"We're being careful to make the right decision about which guy Juninho will actually go to see.

"We're also doing some research to find out if surgery is needed. We've got to get it right.

"Juninho is still coming in here every day for treatment to reduce the swelling. Our staff are taking care of him.''

Boro suffered another knee-injury blow on the opening day of the season at Southampton when teenage left-back David Murphy saw his first League start cut short in the 15th minute by medial ligament damage which is expected to sideline him for six weeks.

Meanwhile, Australia international Tony Vidmar, 33, is training with Boro after being released by Rangers.

Defender Vidmar pulled out of a proposed link-up with former Boro boss Lennie Lawrence at Cardiff City this summer after initially agreeing personal terms.

And Portsmouth are eyeing Boro's Italian defender Gianluca Festa, who is in the final year of his Riverside contract.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.