MIDDLESBROUGH have not given up on striking a deal with Stoke City for Andrew Davies despite the defender’s return to the Britannia Stadium.

Boro boss Tony Mowbray has identified the centre of defence as an area of priority to strengthen following the departure of David Wheater.

With Stephen McManus not expected to return to action until April with ankle ligament damage, Mowbray knows he only has Matthew Bates and Seb Hines as recognised centre-backs.

Jonathan Grounds has been used centrally before, but he would prefer to operate as a left-back, and Middlesbrough are still in discussions with Stoke over the possibility of loaning Davies.

Davies, from Billingham, has been recalled by Stoke after they became frustrated at Middlesbrough’s failure to push through a deal after the player spent more than a month training at Rockliffe Park.

Middlesbrough can loan players after Monday’s transfer deadline, but they are keen to improve their options before that time and have expressed an interest in Bayern Munich reserves captain Maximilian Haas.

An agreement could still be reached with Bayern, with Mowbray knowing the sale of Wheater arrived too late for him to seriously compete with Reading for the signature of Sean Morrison, from Swindon.

Davies, who is desperate for a return to his boyhood club where he graduated through the Academy, represents a reliable option, but the two clubs have been apart on how to bring an end to the remaining 18 months of his Premier League contract at Stoke.

Mowbray has been encouraged by Middlesbrough’s performances in recent weeks.

He was satisfied with how the untested central defensive pairing of Hines – who is considering a new contract offer – and Bates performed together at the heart of the defence against Preston on Saturday.

Middlesbrough midfielder Nicky Bailey believes the side’s recent unbeaten run will count for nothing unless they start chalking up more wins.

Boro suffered another late equaliser against Preston, repeating the agony of late goals at Burton in the FA Cup, against Leeds on New Year’s Day, at Doncaster in December and at Swansea in November.

Middlesbrough have surrendered the lead eight times in all competitions this season and such inability to hang on to a lead is of great concern to Bailey. He said: “It’s really disappointing and frustrating to lose a late goal like that.

“It was a bad way to lose a couple of points. I can imagine the supporters are frustrated, they’re here tearing their hair out every week but we’re up for the challenge and we’re trying our best.

“We just need to keep the way we have and we’ll start to stick the ball away a bit more and see where it gets us. It’s important we haven’t been beaten again.”

In the league, Middlesbrough are unbeaten in 2011 – they last suffered defeat against Doncaster before Christmas – but have drawn three of the last five games.

That, says Bailey, is hampering Boro’s attempts to climb the table.

“It’s always nice to go on a run but it’s better to go on a run with wins,” he said.

“We’re drawing too many games. We’re not putting enough wins together to put us close enough to put us back into contention for the playoffs.

“They are all good teams in this league, sometimes a team that on paper shouldn’t win have gone out and won. That’s the way this league is. we’ve got to pick ourselves up for the next game.”

Middlesbrough striker Scott McDonald hopes to be involved in the Asian Cup final after Japan set up a date with Australia on Sunday.

McDonald was not involved in the Socceroos’ 6-0 triumph over Uzbekistan in the semifinal, but is hoping to figure in the weekend showpiece.

􀂄 Boro’s head of medical, Scotsman Grant Downie, has agreed a new part-time role as physio of England’s Under-20 squad.

􀂄 Supporters who book on Boro’s half-term VIP Stadium Tours will have the chance to chat and have their photographs taken with Julio Arca, Matthew Bates, Joe Bennett and Danny Coyne.

The players will be meeting fans in the dressing rooms during the guided tours, which are making a comeback after a three-year absence at 3pm on February 24.

VIP Tours are priced £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s and over-65s.