Strachan moves for striker Bent

Strachan identified the forward line as a real weakness on day one of his term as Boro boss this week, particularly after learning Jeremie Aliadiere will be missing for six weeks with a foot injury.

Now Bent, who had been hoping to become a major part of Birmingham’s return to the Premier League, has been given permission to head to Teesside and should figure against Plymouth tomorrow.

Bent has fallen victim to Alex McLeish’s tendency to play with a lone striker.

The 31-year-old has rarely been prolific during a career that has spanned 11 other clubs, including Everton, Ipswich and Charlton, but his powerful presence is exactly what Boro have lacked this season.

“We’re trying to get people in on loan at the moment,”

said Strachan, who had been linked with a move for Bent’s team-mate Kevin Phillips after his name appeared on a sheet of paper he was holding on Monday.

“Usually I’ve been at clubs where people are trying to get players from us so it’s been unusual for me to be annoying managers at all times of the day. I’m sure they don’t want to talk to me when I phone at 9.30pm at night.”

Strachan was reluctant to reveal the identities of the players he was targeting until the deals were done, although it has emerged that Bent is likely to be the first to arrive under his management.

“With transfer deals it is either done or not done. People say a deal is 90 per cent done.

What does that mean? It is either done or not done,” said Strachan.

“What I will say is at the moment we are working on things. There is nothing done, but there could be something done soon.”

He added: “As Alex Ferguson used to say the most important part of the team is the strikers and we need to try to make that stronger. The teams that have done well in this division have been strong up front.”

Much was made earlier this week of a list of players’ names that Strachan had written on a piece of paper he had hold of when he was paraded for the first time at the Riverside Stadium on Monday.

He denies the list was his – “I had 30 pieces of paper with names on, does that mean it’s my list?” – but the former Celtic boss was yesterday encouraged by one of those listed to make a move for him.

Former Newcastle defender Andy Griffin has not played in the Premier League for Stoke since an on-field bust up with Ricardo Fuller last December and urged Strachan to make contact.

“I would be interesting in going on loan because I don’t think I will be playing at Stoke,” said the 30-year-old right-back. “It has to suit myself and my family, so we will have to wait and see.

“Middlesbrough is not somewhere I could commute every day, but sometimes you have to look at a situation if and when it arises. It would also depend on what Stoke what to do.

“I have not had phone calls about Middlesbrough, but if something did occur, I would have to give it serious thought. It would be the chance to play first team football for a club challenging to get back into the Premier League, as well as working for someone of the calibre of Gordon Strachan.”

Strachan has enjoyed his first week’s training with the Middlesbrough squad and had them in for a double session on Tuesday.

He has been impressed by the commitment of the players in training so far, but he has been unable to see Aliadiere in action to date.

He issed last Saturday’s draw at Preston and had surgery on floating bone in his foot on Monday. “He has had an operation and is out for six weeks. It is not great,”

said Strachan.

■ Mohamed Shawky has been recalled to Egypt’s squad for their final World Cup qualifier with Algeria.

■ David Wheater is the guest when Boro’s official supporters club meets in the Riverside Stadium’s Fenton Suite on Monday, November 2 at 7.30pm.

Membership fees are £6 per adult and £2 for under-16s and two passport sized photographs are required with each new application, New members can join at their first meeting or by contacting membership secretary Sandra Jackson, PO BOX 803, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 1EJ.