Finnish goal ace Jari Litmanen is being eyed up by both Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Bobby Robson and Boro No 2 Viv Anderson saw the Barcelona star produce moments of brilliance in the Republic of Ireland's 3-0 win at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday night.

Litmanen would welcome a switch to the Premiership after being frozen out at the Nou Camp and the Finn could be available for a cut-price £3m, which has alerted Middlesbrough in particular.

Newcastle boss Robson is without £7m striker Carl Cort until January but Boro's need is greater following the club's slide into the relegation zone.

Robson also checked out Finland centre half Hannu Tihinen, who is rated in the £2m class by Norwegian club Viking Stavanger.

Skipper Paul Ince is aiming to ease the pressure on Robson by making a comeback tomorrow in the crucial home test against Leicester City.

The Boro midfielder is hoping to start along with other big-name injury victims Ugo Ehiogu, Paul Okon and Alen Boksic.

"Seeing us coming back should put a smile on the gaffer's face," said Ince yesterday.

Boro have been hit hard by injuries but fans are still furious over the dramatic slump into the bottom three, and the results against Leicester and then Bradford City at the Riverside could have far-reaching effects.

Both Ince and Ehiogu will have fitness tests today after coming through a reserve game against Manchester United.

Five-goal Boksic is a certain starter at the Riverside tomorrow and Okon came back to captain Australia to victory over Scotland.

But whether Robson will name all four is open to question. Ehiogu has been out for six games, Ince for four and Okon for 12 and there must be concerns about bringing back so many players with queries over their match fitness.

And Ince confirmed: "I'm not sure if I will be ready to start on Saturday, though I want to play some part, possibly from the bench.

"It's a very important game and I hope to be involved but it's a case of seeing how I feel before the game, though I am OK now."

Robson could make a move to strengthen his backroom staff if Boro fail to pick up points from the two matches and he emphasised yesterday: "They are two massive games for this club. We need four points at least from them.

"But at least this is the strongest squad I've had since the opening day of the season. I've always said that, when the injuries start to clear up, our results will improve."

Meanwhile, desperate Huddersfield could be ready to make another bid for out-of-favour striker Alun Armstrong.

Town assistant boss Joe Jordan ran the rule over Armstrong, who scored in Middlesbrough's 4-3 win over United reserves on Wednesday.

Previous boss Steve Bruce failed with a bid for the 25-year-old Geordie, who was on loan at the McAlpine Stadium last season.

Armstrong has had talks with Boro boss Bryan Robson and is ready to move on if he cannot win back a first-team place after returning from two serious injuries.