MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren will abandon his attempt to prise Dwight Yorke from Manchester United if the deal is not done by the end of the week.

Yorke's excessive wage demands are the big sticking point - the 30-year-old striker is reported to be seeking a salary package worth a staggering £58,000 a week.

But with Boro ready to pay United up to £6m to land Yorke, the impasse is testing McClaren's patience and he is ready to look elsewhere for a new goalscorer if the issue isn't resolved before Sunday's home game against Charlton.

"The situation is the same as it was at the weekend,'' said McClaren. "No agreement has been reached with Manchester United or the player. It's still ongoing.

"We've been interested for a number of weeks and I just think there comes a time when the deal either goes through or not.

"We want it resolving sooner rather than later, ideally by the end of the week. We've identified him as someone who will improve our team and we'd like him in as quickly as possible.''

In-form Noel Whelan, who has scored four goals in seven games, will carry Boro's attacking expectations again tonight in the Wear-Tees clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Whelan and substitute Andy Campbell were the scorers in Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round triumph over Manchester United.

And McClaren confirmed that Campbell, yet to start a game this season after missing the first four months of the campaign with ankle trouble, "will definitely be involved'' again as Boro look to repeat their victory over Sunderland at the Riverside in October.

McClaren admitted that, in the continued absence of leading scorer Alen Boksic, Whelan has proved a revelation.

Like Campbell, the former Leeds and Coventry star sat out the opening four months this term with a foot injury.

"He's surprised us,'' said McClaren. "He's come out of the pack and scored four goals. I had a conversation with Gary McAllister at Liverpool. He played with Noel at Leeds and he said: 'You've got a really good player there if you get him right.' Noel has shown he has the ability.''

McClaren, whose side are third bottom in the Premiership, is amazed by the flak directed at Sunderland counterpart Peter Reid from disgruntled fans.

"It's unbelievable the criticism he's had,'' said McClaren. "He's got them up to seventh two years running and he's built that club into what it is.

"I realised when we beat Sunderland just what it meant to our fans, the players and the whole club.

"It lifted everyone and we need that again. We had a great victory on Saturday and we have to follow that up with another good result.

"But Sunderland will be smarting and out for revenge.

"They are a team who get right in your face with total commitment, and Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn cause problems up front.''

Central defender Gianluca Festa, back in training after a hamstring niggle, could return in place of Colin Cooper, who misses the game on compassionate grounds following the tragic death of his two-year-old son, Finlay.

McClaren yesterday read out a statement, saying: "The tragic events of Saturday night have overtaken us as a whole. Everyone at the club is deeply shocked and upset for Colin and his family.

"It is a personal tragedy for them. As difficult as it may be, what we must do now is put our thoughts aside and remember we have professional commitments to our game with Sunderland.

"We must focus on the job in hand in a professional manner that I'm sure Colin and his family would expect of us.''

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