MIDDLESBROUGH are seeking reassurances over the fitness of Matt Kilgallon before rubber-stamping the defender’s loan move from North-East neighbours Sunderland.

Boro begin their second season in the Championship at home to Ipswich Town this afternoon and manager Gordon Strachan has spent the last few days trying to broker a deal with the Black Cats defender.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has given Kilgallon, who cost him £2m eight months ago, the go-ahead to return to the second tier of English football after sealing the return of John Mensah from French club Lyon.

However, with no confirmation from either club of the loan deal last night, Middlesbrough will carry out further investigations into the back injury which has prevented him from appearing in more matches during pre-season.

Boro are reluctant to seal the deal if they feel he will spend much of an initial three-month spell at the Riverside Stadium on the sidelines.

But Bruce said: “We are in talks with Middlesbrough. It would probably be a loan deal.

It’s not past the post. I believe it is close. It will probably be until Christmas and then we will see from there.”

Kilgallon has only made seven appearances, six starts, since completing his move from Sheffield United in late January, when Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Celtic were all interested.

Sunderland’s willingness to meet the Blades’ valuation, though, ended with him heading for Wearside rather than Teesside and he is planning for half a season back in the Championship again.

“He can feel harshly done by,” said the Sunderland boss.

“He came in at a time when we were struggling a little. He will say he has not been given a fair crack of the whip. We will see how he does.”

Despite claims from Mensah that his return to the Stadium of Light is permanent, Bruce insisted it is a loan deal and that it should have gone through in time for him to face Birmingham City next Saturday.

Bruce has convinced chairman Niall Quinn to push through a deal for the Ghana defender, restricted to just 17 appearances last season because of chronic muscular problems.

After witnessing Mensah play so well for his country at the World Cup, Bruce has opted to bring over the 27- year-old’s personal fitness coach from France to work with him on a daily basis.

“It’s not signed and sealed but we are virtually there,”

said Bruce, who revealed that Mensah is in Paris sorting out his visa.

“He is such a good player and everyone should know why we have got him back.

“We will make strides to bring his physio with him. He is a bit more than a physio but I hope it helps.

“He got John through four games in the World Cup, two went to extra-time and when they scored he sprinted 40 yards across to celebrate.

“I’ve never seen him run like that for a long time.”

Sunderland head out to Germany today ahead of tomorrow’s final pre-season friendly with Hoffenheim and Bruce admitted discussions are “ongoing”

aimed at bringing in Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck.

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, however, will not be heading to Sunderland, despite Marton Fulop’s move to Ipswich Town.

Fulop is due to face Middlesbrough and Bruce, who has been told he can’t add another goalkeeper to his ranks after adding Simon Mignolet, had no problem in sanctioning his departure.

“Marton made it pretty clear he didn’t want to be here, he wanted first-team football,”

said Bruce. “Even in the position we are in, with one fit goalkeeper, I wasn’t going to stand in his way.

“He wants to go and play and he wants to be a No 1 somewhere.”

Bruce is weighing up whether to leave out the likes of Jordan Henderson and Darren Bent from tomorrow afternoon’s friendly, given that both are likely to be on England duty next week.

Henderson has been called up for the Under-21s against Uzbekistan and Bent will almost certainly face Hungary for the senior team at Wembley on Wednesday night.

“The crazy thing is this international friendly,” said Bruce, who is already without new signing Cristian Riveros and Paulo Da Silva, who are due to play for Paraguay. “It’s a nonsense. You build up to the start of the season, working with your team, preparing them, and they are all half way around the world playing a nonsensical international.

“It doesn’t really make sense. It will alter my thinking this weekend because, for example, do I play Jordan when he has been selected for the Under-21s? That may not be ideal. Common sense is needed.”