GORDON STRACHAN was last night on the verge of recruiting a fourth player from Celtic after he agreed a loan deal for Scotland international defender Stephen McManus.

Boro were hopeful an arrangement, that will allow the Bhoys club captain to join until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move, could be tied up in time for him to face Doncaster Rovers this evening.

His expected arrival would follow the captures of Willo Flood, Chris Killen and Barry Robson from Strachan’s former club and alleviate an injury crisis labelled by the manager as the worst he has known during his 13 years in management.

After a deal to land Gary Caldwell collapsed at the 11th hour this month, Strachan was hoping for greater success with his latest attempt to land one of his former charges.

The experienced centre-half almost joined Ipswich Town last summer after Roy Keane had a £2.5m offer accepted by the Parkhead outfit, but Mc- Manus proved unwilling to make the move south.

However the product of Celtic’s youth academy remains a great admirer of Strachan who rescued his career after it had hit the buffers under ex-Hoops boss Martin O’Neil. The 27-year-old has been out of favour this season and would jump at the chance to link up with his former gaffer and bolster an injuryravaged Boro squad.

Strachan banned tackling from Middlesbrough’s training sessions this week rather than risk any more players falling victim to the club’s injury hoodoo.

The manager could be without up to ten members of his senior squad at the Keepmoat Stadium tonight as he targets a first away victory since his side thrashed QPR 5-1 almost two months ago.

Chris Riggott, Gary O’Neil and Tony MacMahon were added to the walking wounded following Saturday’s draw with Swansea. The return to training of striker Jonathan Franks, who went to hospital with a suspected appendicitis at the weekend, handed Strachan a crumb of comfort.

“We can’t train,” explained the manager. “It is impossible for us to have any physical contact.

We are giving them days off when you could be working.

We can’t risk any more injuries.

We can’t even practice different formations because there’s not enough players to make up an opposition.”

Strachan is becoming concerned that enforced changes are threatening Boro’s promotion bid.

He added: “Those teams that are doing well have nearly the same line-up every week. Unfortunately for us at this moment in time we are going through an injury crisis that, speaking to people at Middlesbrough, they have never seen before and I have never had in my years as a manager. In 13 years of management this is the worst injury crisis I have had.

“There was a fallacy put about that Boro had the biggest, strongest squad ever – nothing like it! We are very, very bare. When you are having to decimate your youth team on a Saturday to help the first team squad then you know you’re having problems.”

The manager denied Boro’s oversubscribed treatment tables are a result of training sessions being more intense since his arrival.

“This team has worked less than any team I have ever worked with. Because of the games we’ve had and the number of injuries this team has done less actual physical training. When I was at Southampton we did a lot more but that was a bigger stronger squad. There is nothing I can do. It us up to the physios, the players themselves and time,” he said.

In the meantime, Strachan denied reports that Chelsea have proposed a deal to sign Adam Johnson but loan him back to Boro for the remainder of the season.

“There have been enquiries from different teams but none from Chelsea. It’s up to the club and Adam but I would hope to see him here after (the transfer window closes) next Monday,” he affirmed.

■ Boro’s Darlington-born centre-back Adam Jackson has been selected for the England Under-16 squad to play a friendly against Belgium on February 9.

MIDDLESBROUGH (probable): Coyne; Bennett, Wheater, Grounds, Hoyte; Arca, O’Neil, Flood, Johnson; Killen, Lita.