Gordon Strachan has claimed that Celtic defender Stephen McManus is “desperate” to leave Parkhead for the Riverside. Club captain McManus, who has played just 14 times this season and is out of favour under Tony Mowbray, is wanted by his former boss to boost Middlesbrough’s promotion challenge.

It was revealed on Monday that McManus had entered talks with the English Championship club over a loan switch until the end of the season, with Strachan keen to increase his former Celtic contingent to four.

Boro missed out on McManus’ former team mate Gary Caldwell earlier in the transfer window, with the defender choosing to sign for Wigan instead, but Strachan had made his intentions to move for 27-year-old public as he tried to hurry the deal along.

“I think it has been well documented that I’m a big fan of his and he is not getting a game at Celtic,” said Strachan on Wednesday. “I have asked him if he wants to come here and he is desperate to come. It’s now a case of trying to a deal with Celtic.”

It has been reported that Middlesbrough are keen to take Scotland international McManus on loan until the end of the season with a view to signing the player for £2 million permanently in the summer.

Boro halted their recent poor run of form with a resounding 4-1 victory over Doncaster on Tuesday night, with ex-Celtic players Willo Flood and Chris Killen in the starting 11.

They now sit five points off the play-off positions in 10th spot and Strachan is looking to bring in at least two further signings in addition to McManus, as he looks to shore up a defence that has conceded 32 goals from 27 games. They face fellow promotion chasers Bristol City on Saturday.

McManus, who was a virtual ever-present under Strachan during his tenure at Parkhead, last played for Celtic in their 1-1 draw with Falkirk on January 16 but prior to that had been out of the team since Boxing Day.