STEVE McClaren is quietly confident George Boateng will escape a costly Premiership ban, despite the midfielder's dismissal against Sporting Lisbon on Friday night.

Boateng was shown a straight red card in the first half of the Teessiders' 4-0 defeat in Portimao for swinging an arm at Moutinho.

But, despite fears the sending off could lead to an FA suspension, McClaren has since learned referee Bruno Paixao is unlikely to report the incident.

Boateng would face a three-match ban, meaning the former Aston Villa midfielder would miss Boro's Premiership opener against Liverpool on August 13.

"The decision spoilt the game," said McClaren. "But I am encouraged to hear that the referee may not be reporting the sending off."

McClaren's men restored some pride after losing to Lisbon for the third time this year, holding Real Betis to a goalless draw on Saturday night, before running out 3-1 winners on penalties.

Youngsters Adam Johnson, Matthew Bates, Jason Kennedy, Lee Cattermole, Seb Hines and Brad Jones all featured, while a host of regular first-team players were on the bench.

Joseph Job, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Yakubu came closest to scoring in normal time, before Michael Reiziger, Johnson and Doriva sealed the spot-kick win.

The Teessiders step up their preparations on home soil this week, with Atletico Madrid the visitors to the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday night, before Espanyol arrive on Sunday.

"We knew we had tough games over here, but that's what we wanted," said McClaren. "We have two tough games coming up at the Riverside next week as well. Now we press on, it's all geared to the opening game against Liverpool on August 13."

McClaren was linked with a £3.5m move for Manchester United defender Phil Neville at the weekend.

However, the 28-year-old has been told he is still a part of Sir Alex Ferguson's Old Trafford plans.

"The manager has been honest enough to say the club have had bids for me, but he has rejected them," said Neville.

"If he had said yes, I would have known he wanted me to leave. But he said no. They are the words I wanted to hear and he is the only person I wanted to hear them from."

Meanwhile, striker Massimo Maccarone could be handed an opportunity to kick-start his Boro career against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. A proposed loan move to Siena collapsed last week.

Rangers manager Alex McLeish could still sell Peter Lovenkrands despite the winger's sparkling start to the season.

Lovenkrands, the 25-year-old Denmark international, fired in the final goal of a 3-0 Ibrox success over Livingston and that stoppage-time strike lifted them to the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League table.

It was a fine solo effort and capped an impressive left-wing display that saw Lovenkrands go a long way towards banishing the memories of a dismal campaign last season.

McLeish needs funds to bring in a central defender, however, and knows

Boro are mulling over a £600,000 move for Lovenkrands after he spent time on trial on Teesside last week.

Boro chief scout Donald Mackay was in the stands with instructions to provide a full report for McClaren on Lovenkrands' credentials as back up to Stewart Downing.

McLeish said: ''Peter, at last, was getting round his opponent, getting crosses in and it should do his confidence good.

''We have always said we want Peter to scale the heights of my first 18 months here, where he scored a lot of goals. He actually has a good goals-per-season record.

''He is capable and it is just a matter of him believing. We thought he needed a fresh start - and I can't say that that won't happen.

''I think we still need a central defender. It is an area that I want to cover."

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