MIDDLESBROUGH misfit Massimo Maccarone will be left in limbo this weekend after being axed from the squad that will travel to Portugal for a four-team tournament on the Algarve.

The 25-year-old has been told to return to England after a much-mooted move to Italian side Siena collapsed this week.

Maccarone, who is still Boro's record signing after making an £8.15m move from Empoli in July 2002, spent most of last season on loan with the Serie A strugglers.

But while Siena remain keen to tie up another season-long loan deal, they are refusing to pay all of the frontman's wages.

The Italians are hoping to persuade Boro to meet a proportion of Maccarone's pay packet and are pleading poverty with the transfer window due to close in little more than a month's time.

Boro officials have rejected Siena's proposal out of hand and have ordered the striker to return to England to prepare for the new Premiership season.

Maccarone is expected to join the rest of his team-mates at Rockliffe Park next week but, significantly, he will not be travelling to Portugal this weekend.

Boro take on Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon tomorrow night before facing either Real Betis or Vitoria Setubal in the Algarve Stadium 24 hours later.

Maccarone's absence from the travelling party underlines just how peripheral a presence he has become since his headline-making move three summers ago.

Nigerian international Aiyegbeni Yakubu became the eighth striker on Middlesbrough's books when he left Portsmouth at the start of this month and boss Steve McClaren does not see Maccarone as part of his plans for the new campaign.

That leaves Boro in something of a quandary and further talks with Siena are expected to take place next week in an attempt to broker a compromise agreement.

Championship side Southampton have expressed some interest in a possible loan deal, but Maccarone is holding out for a return to his homeland.

The Italian will not be flying to Portugal later today but winger Stewart Downing will be after coming through Tuesday night's friendly at Carlisle without any problems.

Downing, who missed England's summer tour of the United States because of a knee injury, played for 63 minutes at Brunton Park and will continue his rehabilitation on the Algarve.

Striker Peter Lovenkrands could yet be a last-minute addition to the travelling party after spending all of yesterday on Teesside.

The Danish winger is expected to complete a £600,000 switch from Rangers within the next 24 hours after verbally agreeing to move to the Riverside. Lovenkrands was offered personal terms last night and should put pen to paper later today.

He will not, however, be joined by Edgar Davids after the Dutch international rejected Boro's advances and agreed to join Premiership rivals Tottenham yesterday.

* Boro keeper Ross Turnbull has signed a three-month loan deal with League One side Oldham Athletic.

* Darius Vassell is determined to kickstart his career at Manchester City and help the club push for a place in Europe.

The 25-year-old striker, who has signed a four-year contract, completed his £2m move from Aston Villa yesterday.

Vassell believes that under manager Stuart Pearce City can make up for just missing out on a UEFA Cup spot last season, when Robbie Fowler failed to convert a penalty in the final game.

''If you look at where they could have finished it was a fantastic achievement,'' he said. ''Hopefully we can build on that this season.

''When I found out Stuart Pearce was interested in me it was a great confidence booster.

''I met him a couple of days ago and I really like the ideas he has for the team. I can't wait to be a part of it. I thought the time was right to make a fresh start and this is a dream come true.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.