MIDDLESBROUGH have signed Manchester City striker Alex Nimely on a three-month loan.

The 20-year-old will go straight into Tony Mowbray's squad for tomorrow's Championship away game at Crystal Palace.

A prolific goalscorer at youth and reserve-team level, Nimely has also played for England at U20 level.

City rated him highly enough to tie him down with a new four-year contract last April.

Born in Liberia, Nimely left his homeland at an early age and caught the eye of several clubs after settling in England.

Snapped up by City, he thrived at their highly-successful Academy and enjoyed a prolific 2008-09 season, scoring more than 30 goals and adding another ten after graduating to reserve-team football.

He made his first-team debut in a 6-1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor in April 2010.

Although he has represented Liberia U20s, scoring 15 goals in 11 games, he has pledged his international allegiance to England and scored their only goal in the 2009 U20 World Cup finals.