BORO HAND TRIAL TO PSV YOUNGSTER

The 20-year-old only moved to the Philips Stadion in January on a four-year contract, but he has failed to force himself into the first team squad.

PSV have told him that he can leave and he has already been on trial at Silkeborg.

"I came to England on Sunday and I will train with the first-team squad until Friday," he told Ekstra Bladet.

"Time will tell if it ends up with a contract offer, but I am optimistic."

Mortensen is just the latest in a host of trialists who have been at Boro's training ground this season.

Nearly 15 players have been to Rockcliffe Park to train with Boro, but so far only Lens' Franck Queudrue has ended up on the playing staff.

Mortensen will not be the only young Scandinavian on show this week, as Tromso's Morten Gamst Pedersen is also training with the club and Swedish ace Duong Thach is arriving at the club for a second stint later in December.

Meanwhile, the Teesside club are monitoring Hibernian's Scottish Under-21 international Ian Murray.

The 20-year-old was believed to have been watched by the Teesside club during the 3-0 defeat to Livingston at the weekend.

Murray, who is captain of Scotland`s Under-21 side, is a versatile individual who can play in either midfield or defence, and his recent performances have brought him to the attention of Boro boss Steve McClaren.

The England coach has made Scotland one of his main scouting grounds, with Dundee's Gavin Rae and Aberdeen duo Kevin McNaughton and Phillip McGuire both coming under close scrutiny in recent months.

However, any bid from Middlesbrough for any player north of the border will be delayed until the Riverside wage bill is reduced.