Magpies and Boro in battle for Icelandic star

The North-East duo are both keen to sign Icelandic striker Sigurdur Donys, who impressed during a four-day trial with Boro earlier this month.

Middlesbrough are expected to offer Donys an extended trial with a view to a permanent move to the Riverside shortly - but Newcastle are plotting to snap up the 16-year-old.

Donys, who was born in Guatemala but was adopted and moved to Iceland when he was three, scored two goals in a practice match at Middlesbrough.

That persuaded Boro Academy bosses to follow up their initial interest in the player, who was impressed by the facilities at Middlesbrough and would be keen to join them - despite also being a target for clubs in Germany and Norway.

Donys scored 12 goals in his final three games of the Icelandic season, which ended recently, for Third Division club Einherji.

He has been playing professionally since he was just 14 and his eye-catching displays have seen him elevated into the Iceland U-17 team.

Ironically, Middlesbrough might have signed Gudjohnsen - whom Chelsea bought for £4m two years ago - when he left PSV Eindhoven after his contract expired.

But having agreed to give the striker a trial, Boro refused to pay his £80 air fare, and their interest in the player cooled.

Newcastle, too, wanted to sign Gudjohnsen before he joined Chelsea, and they made an enquiry about Donys's availability last week as Middlesbrough prevaricated.

* Steve McClaren has denied that Chesterfield have been given first refusal to sign midfielder Mark Hudson, who is currently on loan at Saltergate.

Hudson is due to return to Boro after tonight's game between Chesterfield and Stockport County, and McClaren said: "There have been no discussions and Mark has been there to gain first-team experience."

Brazilian midfielder Arturo Bernhardt has joined Grimsby Town on trial with a view to a loan spell at the First Division's bottom club.

Boro striker Craig Dove's proposed loan move to Scunthorpe United has fallen through.