MIDDLESBROUGH are to make a renewed bid for Rangers winger Peter Lovenkrands amid fears that winger Stewart Downing will be out for three months with a knee cartilage problem.

Downing picked up the problem at Birmingham City eight days ago but was given the go-ahead to play against Charlton on Sunday after passing a late fitness test.

He had to pull out of the England Under-21s squad for forthcoming fixtures with Wales and Germany, and manager Steve McClaren is frantically trying to find a new winger before today's transfer deadline.

That has led to McClaren returning to Rangers with a view to sealing the signature of Lovenkrands, who is available for around £600,000.

The Danish forward had looked like signing for Boro earlier this summer only for the Riverside Stadium boss to make a u-turn and send the winger back North of the border.

Lovenkrands had two training sessions with Boro last month but McClaren decided against purchasing the player for the proposed fee.

But now, after keeping tabs on the his start to the campaign in the Scottish Premier League, the England No 2 is thought to have rekindled his interest.

The stumbling block could still be Lovenkrands' wages. He is thought to be on £17,000 a week at Rangers, where his contract is due to expire next summer, and is reluctant to lower his demands.

Boro's failure to land Rudolph Douala from Sporting Lisbon has meant Bolo Zenden has still not been replaced and McClaren is seriously short of options on the left flank.

Having bought full-back Emanuel Pogatetz from Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer for £1.8m there is a possibility that either Franck Queudrue or the Austrian will be asked to play further up the field - if the Lovenkrands deal fails to come off.

Failing that 17-year-old Adam Johnson - a local product regarded as having more ability than Downing had at that age - will be thrust into the Premiership spotlight despite his tender years.

Boro are now resigned to losing out on both Douala and midfielder Fabio Rochemback, who is thought to have had doubts over a move to England.

And McClaren's squad is likely to be shy of a couple of members by close of play tonight - with Michael Reiziger the latest player destined to leave.

Reiziger is set to return to his native Holland on a free transfer and is understood to have agreed terms with PSV Eindhoven.

The Dutch right-back has started the first four Premiership games of the season for Boro but is expected to join PSV for nothing.

Reiziger has struggled to make an impact on Teesside following his arrival from Barcelona last summer - and his career in the North-East did not get off to the best of starts when he dislocated a shoulder at Arsenal early last season.

Now the 31-year-old, also tracked by AZ Alkmaar, should complete his move back to his home country later today.

"We are in talks with a club in Holland," representative Sigi Lens confirmed. "Much depends on the club, but we will see how things go. If it happens then it would be on a free transfer."

If Reiziger goes, Boro are expected to seal a permanent move for Abel Xavier, who spent time on Teesside two weeks ago.

* Striker Danny Graham made light of a four-month absence when making a goalscoring return to action as Boro reserves beat Blackburn 4-0 last night.

The 20-year-old, who suffered a broken leg towards the end of last season, scored one and set up another as Malcolm Crosby's side turned in an impressive performance.

Graham netted eight minutes in when he headed past Richard Lee.

Adam Johnson got on the scoresheet himself three minutes later when crisply dispatching a half-volley beyond Lee.

Massimo Maccarone added a third on 34 minutes before the visitors were reduced to ten men. Graham got the fourth in the second half.