Gordon Strachan has been linked with another swoop on his old club Celtic in the January transfer window. It has been reported that the Middlesbrough manager is weighing up a move for versatile defender Mark Wilson to strengthen his team’s leaky defence.
Wilson, 25, has been pinpointed as a solution to Middlesbrough’s troublesome right back position. In his four games as manager so far, Strachan has tried out three players - Tony McMahon, Justin Hoyte and Rhys Williams – without success.
It is believed that Strachan will approach Celtic to take Wilson on loan in January until the end of the season, with a permanent transfer in the offing should Middlesbrough win promotion back to the English Premier League.
The £500,000 signing from Dundee United in January 2006 has been plagued with injuries during his time at Parkhead. His most unfortunate spell came in 2006, when he broke his foot and then injured his knee. Wilson subsequently required surgery on his injured knee later in the 2006/2007 season.
Wilson has made just five first team appearances under Tony Mowbray this season with his last appearance coming in Celtic’s 1-0 home defeat to Hamburg in the Europa League in October. German full back Andreas Hinkel is ahead of him in the pecking order for a spot at right back whilst Danny Fox and Lee Naylor are keeping him out of contention at left back.
He is however under contract until 2012 having signed a three-year contract extension whilst Strachan was still in charge at Celtic last December. He was quoted at the time saying that he felt his future was with the Glasgow club. He said: “I think the best years are still ahead of me with Celtic. If you moved down south or abroad, you wouldn't get experiences like Tannadice or the European nights at Celtic Park.”
Strachan’s reign as ‘Boro boss hasn’t got off to the best of starts, with the Scot yet to win a game since taking over from Gareth Southgate in October. In four matches, Middlesbrough have lost twice and drawn twice. Their most recent result was a 2-2 draw against English Championship bottom club Peterborough United.
The Teeside club – who were relegated from the English Premier League last season – were fourth when Southgate was sacked by chairman Steve Gibson. Their form under Strachan however has seen them drop down to tenth in the table, 13 points behind leaders Newcastle.
Last updated: 01 December 2009, 16:45
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