TRIALIST Jesper Blomqvist will be given another chance to seal a move to Middlesbrough today when the club play their second pre-season friendly.

The Swedish winger is hoping to earn a contract at Boro and manager Steve McClaren will include the 28-year-old in his 22-man squad to face Italian side Udinese in Austria. Blomqvist, who was released by Everton this summer, is keen to stay in the Premiership and join Boro.

It is understood that McClaren, who worked with the ex-AC Milan man at Manchester United, sees Blomqvist as the player to help bring on young midfielder Stewart Downing.

Downing, who turned 18 on Monday, made an impressive full debut at Ipswich in April and McClaren believes the youngster has great potential.

The capture of Blomqvist - even if he is only handed a 12-month contract - would allow McClaren to nurture Downing into top-flight football.

McClaren praised his squad's attitude during pre-season, saying: "Everyone is working hard and seem to be in good spirits.

"We're based at the Austria National Sports Centre. It's a great environment where we can concentrate on our football away from any distractions."

Meanwhile, negotiations to bring Juninho back to the Riverside for a third time are understood to be restarting again in Spain today.

The Brazilian's father, Osvaldo Giroldo Snr, flew to Madrid from Sao Paulo yesterday and he will meet up with a Boro contingent headed by chief executive Keith Lamb.

Juninho, on loan at Flamengo from Atletico Madrid until July 31, turned down Boro's initial contract offer this month after Boro agreed a £6m fee.

It is thought that if talks break down again today McClaren will turn to other targets.

Boro spokesman Dave Allan said last night: "We remain hopeful that we can eventually agree a deal that would see Juninho back at the Riverside. Talks are ongoing."

Leeds striker Robbie Keane and Leicester's Muzzy Izzet are both high on McClaren's wanted list and both are thought to be options if Juninho's move breaks down again.

Brazil legend Jairzinho believes that Boro should ditch their attempts to sign Juninho and buy the player who took the diminutive midfielder's place during the World Cup - Kleberson.

Kleberson, available for around £4m from Atletico PR, is desperate for a move to the Premiership.

And Jairzinho said: "Kleberson is a very intelligent player who has the skills of being tough in midfield but also has the ability to go forward. That's why he took the place of Juninho.

"He has a lot more strength than Juninho and can shoot from long distance."

* Sunderland target David Linares has been taken on trial by Aston Villa. The highly-rated 26-year-old is hoping to ply his trade in England next season and the Villans have acted first.

However, Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor indicated that a deal is far from complete.

"He is training with us for three or four days, we are just having a look at him," he said. "There's no more to it at the moment."

Linares helped Lyon to Le Championnat title last season.

Meanwhile, Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen believes he can put his World Cup nightmare behind him.

Sorensen was blamed for two of England's goals in Denmark's 3-0 defeat in the second round.

But the 26-year-old said: "I'll learn from it and come back stronger.

"It was not a good way for my World Cup to finish and I was down after the England game.

"But I've had time to get over it and when I look back I think of the World Cup as a fantastic tournament.

"The only disappointing thing is that we didn't give England a better game. I think on another day we could have beaten them."

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