MIDDLESBROUGH and Nigeria are on collision course over the prospect of striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu being ruled out of Premiership action for over a month.

Boro have received an official request from the Nigerian Football Association for Yakubu to join up with a 35-man provisional squad - with a number meeting up on December 20 in preparation for the African Nations Cup, a full month before the competition is due to start.

That would mean the striker missing six matches over the hectic Christmas period before a ball has even been kicked in Africa's version of the European Championships.

Boro are confident they can, at worst, persuade the Nigerian authorities that Yakubu should continue to play for his club side until mid-January - it will be then that national coach Austin Eguavoen will reduce the preliminary squad to 22 with the former Portsmouth striker, against the hopes of Boro boss McClaren, expected to be involved.

If he leaves Teesside then, Boro's £7.5m top-scorer could miss as many as seven games, including a possible two-legged Carling Cup semi-final encounter.

McClaren admits he will be holding negotiations with his expensive summer recruit.

"I don't know if he's going or not. He's been called up and it's under discussion," said the Boro boss.

"Does Yak want to go? You'd have to ask Yak. We'll have to see about it but I'm not keen on him going."Yakubu, who has 15 caps for his country, does not want to upset his club but has previously admitted he would like to play in the Egypt finals, where Nigeria have been grouped with Ghana, Senegal and Zimbabwe.

It starts on January 20 and the final is on February 10, just a day before Chelsea visit the Riverside Stadium for a Premiership fixture.

Yakubu, ironically, is likely to be rested by McClaren for tonight's UEFA Cup Group D clash with Litex Lovech as a number of Boro's youngsters are given a chance to impress.

Boro know a victory is essential if they are to stand a chance of topping the group, although both teams are already assured of a place in the last 32.

Failure to finish first would mean the Teessiders run the risk of ending in second spot and face one of the Champions League losers in the next stage.

But McClaren admits his squad are relishing the prospect of one of Europe's top teams arriving in the North-East in the next round should AZ Alkmaar beat them to top spot tonight.

"We've talked it through with the players. The main target was qualifying, the next stage is winning it, wherever we finish, we'll take it. If I could I would try to rest everybody," said McClaren, knowing a crowd of as little as 8,000 could be at the Riverside to see the Bulgarians come to town.

"We don't mind getting a big team. There are some fantastic European nights out there and we had a few of them last time, but we've not really had that yet this time.

"The players would probably like to get a big team, in front of a huge crowd. That's why we're in Europe. This one doesn't fire the imagination and it will probably be another low crowd. We have to deal with that.

"The players want to win but they also want to demonstrate their capabilities in front of a big crowd. If that's not the case, we'll do it in the next game."

Attacking midfielder Jason Kennedy and left-winger Adam Johnson will join Matthew Bates and James Morrison in the starting line-up tonight.

And McClaren, never one to shy away from pinning his faith in youth since taking charge in 2001, is optimistic many of his academy products can contribute to a Boro win.

"We've no hesitation in bringing the kids in, they've never let us down before," said McClaren. "I feel they can cope with it. They'll be capable of winning.

"Jason has made great progress in the reserves. We need to have a look at him.

"When you look at our Christmas programme, you're going to get injuries and have to rest people, so we might have to call on the youngsters. It is a great opportunity for me to have a look at them an see if I can add him to the squad.

"It takes 15 games to win the UEFA Cup on top of the league programme and when you want to do well in the Carling Cup and FA Cup you have to rotate your squad."

Litex are fourth in the Bulgarian league after a weekend win over Levski Sofia and have lost just one of their last 13 games.

Boro (possible; 4-4-2): Jones; Bates, Riggott, Ehiogu, Pogatetz; Morrison, Kennedy, Doriva, A Johnson; Viduka, Maccarone.

* Newcastle full-back Celestine Babayaro will not be featuring in next month's African Nations Cup after he was left out of Nigeria's provisional squad. Midfielder Amdy Faye was named in the Senegal squad for the three-week competition.

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