MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren has been warned not to expect a new injection of funds despite the ankle injury that threatens to sideline Gareth Southgate for the best part of three months.

And, while Ugo Ehiogu and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink remain likely to complete moves away from the Riverside this month, an anticipated player exodus has been shelved because of the injury crisis that has engulfed the Riverside.

Keith Lamb outlined the prevailing mood in the Boro boardroom when he spoke of the club "cutting their cloth accordingly" at the end of last month.

Chairman Steve Gibson shares his chief executive's concerns and, with the Teessiders currently just two places above the drop zone, the priority has switched from European qualification to financial stability and Premiership survival.

To that end, McClaren has been told he will not be in a position to make the kind of big-money signings he had been hoping to complete before the transfer window shuts on January 31.

A couple of new arrivals are likely, but they will be loan signings or cut-price deals rather than multi-million pound purchases.

On the opposite side of the coin, while they had previously spoken of trimming the wage bill to create space for new signings, Boro are now reluctant sellers. So, while the club have accepted Mark Schwarzer's transfer request, it would no longer be a surprise to see the Australian still at the Riverside on February 1.

Gibson is understood to feel that switching three of four players would represent a major step into the unknown, given the genuine threat of relegation that currently exists. Boro are just five points ahead of a rejuvenated Portsmouth, the team who currently fill the final spot in the bottom three, and face a daunting trip to Highbury on Saturday.

While the club's fans may claim that new blood is essential given a run of seven league games without a win, Gibson is currently adopting the mantra of 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't'.

McClaren had been hoping to make a move for Fulham defender Zat Knight, a player who was first linked with a move to the Riverside last summer.

The England number two made a tentative inquiry to Fulham boss Chris Coleman in the close season but, despite being impressed by the giant defender during England's post-season tour of North America, he opted to take his interest no further at the time.

McClaren remains an avowed admirer of the 25-year-old but, with Fulham valuing him at around £5m, financial constraints mean Knight is no longer a viable option.

Even if Hasselbaink was included in any deal - the striker has been linked with both Fulham and Charlton this week - his age means the effect on Knight's price would be negligible.

With Aiyegbeni Yakubu and Mark Viduka established as McClaren's first-choice strike pairing, Hasselbaink remains desperate to leave the Riverside this month.

His exit is likely to be accompanied by the departure of Ehiogu, despite the collapse of the defender's move to West Brom yesterday.

After passing a medical and agreeing personal terms at the Hawthorns, Ehiogu was recalled to the Riverside when Boro's medical staff confirmed the extent of Southgate's ankle injury.

With Franck Queudrue out for two months and Emanuel Pogatetz facing a one-match suspension, the former Aston Villa defender will line up alongside Chris Riggott as Boro take on Arsenal this weekend.

Ehiogu was initially unwilling to return to the North-East, with his agent, Steve Kutner, claiming: "He does not want to go back to Middlesbrough, despite what might have happened. In his head, he is a West Brom player and he was gearing up to play for them this weekend."

However, it is understood that the 33-year-old has been assured that he will still be allowed to join the Baggies next week. By that stage, McClaren hopes to have a short-term replacement for Southgate in place, although recalling Andrew Davies from his loan spell at Derby is not currently an option.

The Boro boss is hoping Southgate's injury is not as serious as initially feared. The skipper broke his ankle during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Nuneaton but, while the initial diagnosis was a stress fracture, scan results this morning could prove slightly more rosy. Either way, he is unlikely to be back in action before mid-March at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Ray Parlour has played down his prospects of bidding an emotional farewell to Highbury this weekend.

The Boro midfielder spent 13 years on Arsenal's books and would dearly love to make a final visit to the club's spiritual home before it is demolished.

But, despite returning from injury with a 65-minute run out for the reserves on Tuesday, Parlour has admitted he is unlikely to feature against the Gunners.

"Arsenal might come a little bit too early for me but I'll have to wait and see," he said.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.