Paul Gascoigne will return to pre-season training with Middlesbrough today and is neither poised for a return to Scotland nor a switch to Australia, according to his adviser Mel Stein.

The ex-England midfielder has been linked with Scottish Premier League Kilmarnock who have not denied a potential interest, but Stein insists there is no prospect of such a move at the moment.

He claims suggestions that Gascoigne has been released by Boro are false but admits that with one year of his contract remaining the player will be examining his options in the months ahead.

Darlington were also linked with a move for the ex-England international at the weekend with chairman George Reynolds claiming: "I can make Gazza right. He'd love it here.''

But any move is a non-starter as Gascoigne's weekly wage packet of £28,000-a-week is way beyond what Reynolds would be prepared to pay.

When asked about Kilmarnock Stein said: ''That is absolute nonsense. There has been no contact from them at all. Paul has not spoken to me at all about wanting to return to Scotland.''

Stein was no less dismissive about suggestions Gascoigne might be heading for Australian outfit Northern Spirit, recently bought into by Rangers chairman David Murray.

He said: ''That's nonsense as well. Paul will be back for pre-season training with Middlesbrough and is still under contract with them.

''He is in the last year of his current contract, so if the right club came in that would have to be looked at when the times comes - but as it stands that is not an issue.''

Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson is believed to want Gascoigne whom he would hope to attract with the assistance of the midfielder's former Ibrox colleagues Ian Durrant and Ally McCoist who both play at Rugby Park.

Williamson's only comment on the matter was: ''If Paul Gascoigne is fit and available any manager would have to be interested. That's all I want to say because I don't like commenting on players who are not at the club.''

Meanwhile former Newcastle and England favourite Peter Beardsley has revealed he believes Gascoigne will end his playing days in Sunday League football.

Beardsley, who drew his playing career to an end when his contact expired at Hartlepool last summer, admitted: "David Hirst is playing Sunday league football and I feel Gazza will end up there, turning out with his mates on a Sunday morning because he enjoys football so much.''

Meanwhile former Newcastle keeper Pavel Srnicek has pulled out of a move to Napoli in favour of a switch to fellow Italians Brescia.

l Celtic manager Martin O'Neill insists that Chris Sutton will rediscover his confidence at Parkhead.

The 27-year-old - who could have joined Middlesbrough after Bryan Robson agreed a £6m deal wiht Chelsea - is set to join the Bhoys for a club record £6m after a medical today following a barren season in London last year.

But O'Neill is adamant that his first signing will reap rich dividends in the Scottish Premier League.

''Chris has got basic ability which is vitally important,'' said O'Neill.

''I think he is a good player who has lost a bit of confidence and that can happen. I think confidence is sometimes not a game-by-game thing for players it can be a minute-by-minute thing.

''This game is based on confidence. The confidence to play in front of crowds and perform at your very best, even when you're having a bad time. It shows character if you can come through all those things.

''I think Sutton has the basic ingredients to do well. He has been sold on the club more than anything else and I believe he can do it.''

O'Neill is hopeful that the imminent arrival of Sutton, who will link up with his new team-mates on the Danish leg of their pre-season tour tomorrow will not be the last of the summer.

''I have always played with width anyway and I would like to get width into the side no doubt about that. I have people in mind,'' said O'Neill.

''Chris said to me that, at Chelsea, they played quite narrow. When you're confident, you can deal with anything and Chris had lost a bit of confidence which, hopefully, will be restored here.

l Bradford's forgotten man Lee Mills yesterday delivered a stark reminder that he is determined to be a force in the Premiership next season during their 7-2 aggregate Intertoto cup win over FK Atlantas.

Little had been seen of Mills at Valley Parade since mid-January following a bust-up with then manager Paul Jewell, but he returned in dramatic style to fire City into the third round of the tournament.

He hit a first-half double to help to set up a third round clash with seeded Dutch club RKC Waalwijk.