Source: Northern_Echo
Middlesbrough line up Celtic defender to replace St Ledger
GORDON STRACHAN last night insisted it was Sean St Ledger's decision to turn his back on the Riverside Stadium, leaving the Middlesbrough boss stepping up efforts to land Celtic's Gary Caldwell.[LNB] Having allowed St Ledger to return to Preston at the end of his loan, Strachan is desperate to make additions to his squad and new defenders figure prominently on his list of targets.[LNB] The need for a centre-back was heightened on Saturday, when Emanuel Pogatetz was forced off seven minutes before the end of the comfortable win over Scunthorpe United with a hamstring problem.[LNB] Strachan fears the Austrian, who has already missed a large chunk of the season with knee trouble and a fractured cheekbone, will be out for at least a few weeks with his latest complaint and he will definitely be absent at Barnsley today.[LNB] The injury situation, with Matthew Bates and Seb Hines also ruled out for the long term, has left Strachan intent on bringing in Caldwell at the early possible opportunity.[LNB] Celtic are willing to listen to offers for the 27-year-old, out of contract in the summer, but they are unlikely to receive the top price of £3m which they rate him at, with £500,000 a more likely figure.[LNB] St Ledger's departure gives Strachan more strength in the transfer market, even if Middlesbrough have had to write off the £1.5m downpayment they had already paid to Preston.[LNB] But given how a further £3m would have been due to Preston for the Republic of Ireland international, Strachan will be aware he now has those funds to tinker with his playing staff next month.[LNB] While it will suit the manager to bring in fresh faces, Strachan insists it was St Ledger's determination to return to Deepdale that prevented a full transfer going through.[LNB] I've enjoyed his company.[LNB] But for the last two weeks I've been trying to talk him into staying at the club, said Strachan, who denied last week that there had been a bust up with the player. He feels at this moment in time he wants to live, train and play in the Preston area.[LNB] I've tried my best to change his mind. I respect his decision. As a footballer you make decisions for reasons other than football, he's done that and we respect his decision, we've left on good terms and we wish him luck.[LNB] St Ledger's departure is likely to be the first of many at the Teesside outfit over the next few weeks, with Strachan's other loan signings likely to be the first out of the door.[LNB] Marcus Bent and Dave Kitson look certain to head back to Birmingham and Stoke respectively when their loans expire tonight, while Strachan could try to retain Isaiah Osbourne after a relatively impressive spell from Aston Villa.[LNB] With Leroy Lita to start a three-match suspension at Barnsley following his sending-off for violent conduct on Saturday, Strachan knows he is also short of striker options.[LNB] Birmingham's former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips is thought to be in his sights.[LNB] There are also plenty of other options and he wants new faces in a variety of positions, with Celtic pair Mark Wilson and Barry Robson also under serious consideration if the price is right.[LNB] Whoever does arrive next month, Strachan will be more confident that the new faces will help to push Middlesbrough towards the play-off places.[LNB] The impressive 3-0 win over lowly Scunthorpe lifted Middlesbrough to within four points of sixth-placed Swansea, while remaining ten points short of second-placed West Brom.[LNB] Goals from Adam Johnson, Rhys Williams and Jeremie Aliadiere secured the win, leaving Strachan beaming at the Riverside for the first time since his appointment in late October.[LNB] I was delighted with the start of the game, I thought we got off to a fantastic start, said Strachan, knowing they had gone a goal up inside ten minutes from Johnson's penalty when Cliff Byrne was sent off for bringing down Aliadiere.[LNB] It's only a result. It's a crazy league. You saw some of the results on Saturday. We just have to keep going. Our strikers were good in the first half and when your strikers are doing well you've got a good chance of doing something.[LNB] Boro have sold their initial allocation of 3,400 tickets for today's trip to Oakwell, but a further 2,000 tickets are available on the turnstiles.[LNB] Prices are £19 for adults, £11 Over 60s and Under 17s and £5 for accompanied under 12s.[LNB]
