GORDON STRACHAN might have been looking to bring in players he was familiar with, but now he has been forced to look to the continent in a bid to strengthen Middlesbrough’s squad.

As well as handing former Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver a chance to earn a contract with the Teessiders, Strachan has also handed trials to two unknown quantities from abroad.

Angolan midfielder Dominique Kivuvu has started a seven-day spell at the club’s Rockliffe Park training headquarters, while Argentine defender Norberto Paparatto is due later this week.

The pair’s arrival marks a change of approach from Strachan, who ideally would like to bring in players that he knows.

The 26-year-old Paparatto has been a key figure in Atletico Tigre’s rise to prominence in his homeland in the last three years.

The right-footed centreback was courted by Wolves and Stoke City in the summer, although neither opted to match the £2.5m price-tag. He has figured in just three matches for Tigre this season.

Kivuvu trained with the Boro squad yesterday after being given permission from his club, NEC Nijmegen.

The Amstermam-born 22- year-old has set his heart on playing in this country after a relatively impressive spell in Holland.

Kivuvu, who has five caps for Angola but missed out on their Africa Cup of Nations squad, is out of contract in the summer and has already told NEC that he does not intend to sign a new deal.

Strachan, who will resist Wolves’ attempts to prise Adam Johnson away for £6.5m, has assured the key members of his existing squad that he will bring in more new faces before the transfer window closes on February 1.

He remains interested in QPR winger Wayne Routledge, Birmingham striker Kevin Phillips, Rangers frontman Kris Boyd and Celtic’s £5m-rated Scott McDonald, but those deals are much more difficult to crack.

Strachan looks likely to hand Weaver a short-term deal at the Riverside Stadium, which would be another hammer blow to Australian goalkeeper Brad Jones.

Jones has not even made the bench in recent weeks and has fallen behind Danny Coyne and Jason Steele.

Strachan hopes to confirm the departure of Mark Yeates today, with Sheffield United expected sign the 24-year-old for around £500,000.