Injury-hit Middlesbrough have made another inquiry for Derby County's £3m-rated wing-back Roy Delap.

The former Carlisle midfielder could be available as Derby boss Jim Smith attempts to ease the club's relegation fears by making major changes.

Smith has signed Marseille centre-back Lilian Martin, who returned to France after an unsuccessful trial at Middlesbrough in the summer.

And yesterday he was hoping to complete a move for AC Milan's out-of-favour Nigerian World Cup defender Taribo West.

Delap was used as an attacker - and scored - in Derby's Worthington Cup win over Norwich in midweek, only their second victory over the season.

But Smith may be prepared to part with the 24-year-old and raise funds in an attempt to strengthen the side and lift them away from the foot of the table.

Boro have been linked with Delap previously but have failed to make progress.

Meanwhile, the Boro boss could be forced into a double gamble aainst in-form Arsenal on Saturday in a bid to break a four-game losing streak that has dumped his side into the bottom four.

Robson is hoping to push Aussie Mark Schwarzer and Croatian Alen Boksic into the starting line-up, though neither is 100 per cent after injury.

The 6ft 5in keeper, out for six weeks with a broken thumb, made a 70-minute comeback in a special game at Berwick and yesterday reported no ill-effects.

Now Robson could name his number one to face the Gunnners after a howler by stand-in Mark Crossley at Ipswich last week led to defeat.

Schwarzer may be ready to return and last night issued a defiant message with Boro facing a tough double date with Arsenal then Manchester United.

"With the talent we've got in the squad we'll get out of trouble. We've turned things around quickly before when we've had to and we'll do it again," said the 28-year-old.

"It's been very frustrating watching and unable to do anything and I want to get back. But I don't know about Saturday, I'll see what happens in training."

Boro have nine senior players out, including Boksic, who is still struggling with knee ligament damage.

They are likely to leave a decision on Schwarzer and the £2.5m striker until as late as possible, though Arsenal is hardly the ideal test for players returning from lengthy injury