MARVIN EMNES will join new signing Kieron Dyer in the Middlesbrough squad for tomorrow’s trip to Ipswich Town after Swansea City decided against a cash-only deadline day move for the Dutchman.

Emnes would have gone in the opposite direction had Boro’s late attempt to scupper Danny Graham’s £5m switch from the Liberty Stadium to Sunderland been successful.

But Graham’s refusal to consider dropping into the Championship left Emnes’ future up in the air and he will now be in contention to face Ipswich tomorrow.

Swansea had agreed to a part-exchange proposal that would have seen Middlesbrough pay some money and allow the Dutch forward to join a club who have courted him for more than two years.

With Scott McDonald and Ishmael Miller struggling with injuries ahead of the trip to Portman Road, Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray was reluctant to let one of his forwards depart.

But he has warned that his move for Graham was not an indication there is cash in the pot to do more deals when the loan window opens in a week.

He said: “That’s why it was disappointing to see reports saying we had bid £5.5m for Danny Graham because the perception is we have that money to spend. We haven’t.”

Mowbray believes Dyer will make an impact

“If we have an asset they like and they have an asset we like, no money has to exchange hands. Or there could be a bit of money we could afford.

“Generally our strikers have scored goals. McDonald and (Lukas) Jutkiewicz are in double figures and Miller is getting one in two. The point being our strikers are scoring goals and we are happy with them. I am not looking for another striker.”

With Emnes in the squad, Mowbray will now spend the night contemplating whether or not to include new-boy Dyer in his starting line-up at Ipswich, the player’s first club.

The 34-year-old has been training with Middlesbrough this week and in the manager’s mind the deal “was done”

despite Middlesbrough’s reluctance to announce his arrival until all the necessary p a p e r w o r k had gone through.

He was released by Queens Park Rangers last month and his friendship with Mowbray and assistant manager Mark Venus – from the trio’s days together at Ipswich – helped convince him to head for Teesside ahead of a number of other clubs.

Injuries have restricted Dyer to just 35 Premier League appearances since leaving Newcastle five-and-ahalf years ago which has led to him only being offered a pay-as-you play deal at the Riverside.

Mowbray is excited about having the former England man in his squad and has challenged him to prove he is worth another deal beyond the end of this season.

“Kieron could have finished his career if wanted to,” said Mowbray. “He won’t be short of a bob or two. He is here because he wants to come. He has been playing football, so why would he pack it in?

“He wants to play and show people that he is still a talented footballer. If that works out for him and is enjoying it then I think we could just carry on (beyond this season).

“He knows us. If it doesn’t work out, he gets an injury, it could keep him out a while, he has respect for us and we have respect for him as a guy and footballer. He will not be a burden on this club if he is injured. He is a good lad.”

Having watched Dyer train at Rockliffe Park a couple of days this week, Mowbray is confident he can make an impact in the Championship as an attacking midfielder.

Mowbray said: “Two weeks ago he was at QPR, a Premier League side, playing some matches and scoring in the FA Cup against West Brom. He has been training and playing.

“Dyer isn’t a shy little kid.

He is a seasoned pro who has come in and has the confidence to go out and look pretty good.

“Hopefully he enjoys his time here and we get the benefits of a top player. Kieron is happy and we are happy. If Kieron is unavailable to play then he will not be costing us a lot of money.

“He can play in attacking midfield role but has great versatility. He played rightback for QPR. We will utilise his versatility.”

Mowbray rejected a number of calls from lower league clubs to take former Darlington striker Curtis Main on loan. Jake Fowler, meanwhile, has been training with Stockport.

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