PSV Eindhoven's Dennis Morten-sen is due to arrive at Middlesbrough this weekend for a trial.

The 20-year-old striker, who signed a four-year deal with the Dutch giants in the summer, is the latest talented youngster to spend time at the Riverside.

Boro boss Steve McClaren has monitored a number of players since arriving in July

But only Frenchman Franck Queudrue has impressed enough to earn a temporary move to the club.

But Mortensen is hopeful that he can follow in the footsteps of Queudrue and the Dane is determined to impress McClaren.

"I came to England on Sunday and I will train with the first team squad until Friday," said Mortensen, who has also been on trial at Silkeborg after being told he can leave.

"Time will tell if it ends up with a contract offer, but I am optimistic."

Mortensen will be joined by fellow Scandinavian Morten Gamst Pedersen, from Tromso, while Swedish ace Duong Tach is arriving later in December.

The arrival of Mortensen comes at a time when McClaren is continually trimming his bulging squad.

Four players were released yesterday as he aims to reduce the wage bill. Defender Steve Baker, 23, was one of the quartet to be shown the door by the Boro chief and has joined Nationwide Conference side Scarborough on a free transfer.

Baker was tipped for a huge future in the game after he successfully man-marked Liverpool's Steve McManaman in the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup final first leg at Anfield.

Others who have been freed are striker Gerard Robinson and centre-backs Aron Wilford and Paul Stephenson, all 19.

Mark Summerbell has returned from Stockport after his trial and Brian Deane is expected to complete his move to Leicester in time to make his debut against Aston Villa on Saturday.

McClaren is also said to have had scouts eyeing Hibernian's Scottish Under-21 international Ian Murray.

Meanwhile, Boro's Italian defender Gianluca Festa has urged football authorities to clampdown on drug cheats.

The former Inter Milan centre-back, who has just returned from injury, has defended clubs in Italy, where ten players have tested positive for nandrolone in the last 12 months.

Festa said: "Jaap Stam's positive drug test has caused huge headlines all over Europe with commentators pointing accusing fingers at Italian clubs.

"I do not believe for one moment that we have widespread doping problems in my home country.

"If you look at the most prominent people to fail tests, they are mostly from abroad."

And Festa has called for an increased number of tests on players to be carried out in this country.

"Italian football has one of the strictest drug-testing regimes in the world," said the 32-year-old.

"In my five years in England, I have been tested just twice. Yet in Italy, players are tested in every Serie A game.

"A total of four players are selected, two from each side.

"Urine samples are sent to laboratories for analysis. There is no escape.

"I am fully in favour of this. If there are cheats, it is in the game's interest that they are caught."

l Promising England junior internationals Ross Turnbull, Jamie Cade and Stewart Downing are expected to play a leading part in Boro's AXA FA Youth Cup third-round tie with Notts County at the BT Cellnet Riverside Stadium tonight.

Read more about the Boro here.