CELTIC are expecting to learn within the next 48 hours whether Middlesbrough's Juninho has had a rethink and opted to turn his back on Teesside, writes Paul Fraser.

The little Brazilian faces a struggle to command a place in Steve McClaren's starting line-up this season following the arrivals of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka at the club.

Juninho had originally pledged his future to the Riverside outfit, pinning his hopes on trying to convince McClaren that he could still do a job for Boro in the Premiership.

However, after failing to be even handed a place on the bench against Newcastle on Saturday, the attacking midfielder is seriously reviewing his options again.

It is understood Juninho had a meeting with his advisors, the Hassell brothers Bryan and Jonathan, yesterday to discuss a possible £1m to Scotland.

Meanwhile, fears that skipper Gareth Southgate may be facing a season on the sidelines with a knee injury have been denied by the club.

Southgate, absent from Saturday's draw with Newcastle, had scans on a recurrence of the same injury that kept him out of Euro 2004 on Friday but it is believed to be only a short-term problem.

The 33-year-old has not given up hope of playing against Arsenal on Sunday, although his chances of making his first appearance of the season at Fulham next Wednesday appear more likely.

* Celtic have announced a loss of nearly £7.5m over the last year - despite not buying a player this summer.

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