MIDDLESBROUGH are set to appoint former Elche goalkeeping coach Marcos Abad as their latest temporary replacement for the injured Leo Percovich.

With Percovich unavailable after undergoing Achilles surgery, Boro brought in Eric Steele to plug the gap, but the former Manchester United coach picked up an injury of his own and was forced to step down.

Aitor Karanka has subsequently turned to Abad, who worked at Elche with Victor Orta and Paco Peral, both of whom have left Spain in the last 12 months to move to Middlesbrough.

Abad met with Elche officials earlier today to terminate his contract, which had been due to expire at the end of the season, and is set to begin his temporary role with Boro’s first-team squad shortly.

He could even link up with the rest of Boro's backroom staff in Spain this week, with Karanka due to take his players to a training camp on the outskirts of Benidorm tomorrow.