Middlesbrough will make a check on £3m-rated Finland centre-back Hannu Tihinen in the friendly against the Republic of Ireland tonight.

The 24-year-old is being tracked by several English clubs, including Blackburn, and Boro will have a representative in Dublin to make an assessment.

Bryan Robson could be ready to move after informing unhappy defender Gianluca Festa yesterday he could leave the Riverside.

Boro are also searching for a replacement for 35-year-old Gary Pallister.

Tihinen has attracted attention at Viking Stavanger and a spokesman for the Norwegian club yesterday confirmed: "He is ready to leave and there are a number of clubs interested. They will be watching him in Dubin.

"Middlesbrough and Blackburn are two of them. We have spoken to representatives of Middlesbrough and expect to have further discussions.

"We will have to see what happens after the game but we will be in London for negotiations in the next few days."

Tihinen's agent also claimed that Boro are involved, along with Blackburn and added: "Stavanger want about £3m and it is up to the clubs to agree a fee with them first."

Record buy Ugo Ehiogu is set for a return in Middlesbrough reserves tonight - and a Premiership comeback this week.

The £8m centre-back, who lasted only four minutes of his debut last month, faces Manchester United reserves along with skipper Paul Ince and both are pencilled in for the crucial game against Leicester at the Riverside on Saturday, with Alen Boksic, Robbie Mustoe and Noel Whelan all expected to be fit.

Ehiogu started full training yesterday and said: "I'm hoping to be OK for Leicester."

Robson has warned his players they must take points from Leicester and next opponents Bradford to start the climb out of the bottom three. "It's such an important game we've got to make sure everbody is fully fit," said the Boro boss.

"Ugo will probably play 70 minutes in the reserves but I will leave it up to Paul to do what he wants.

"But I'm hopeful that we will be nearly back to full strength by the weekend and that will be a bonus."