Middlesbrough may have to do without the services of star Brazilian striker Afonso Alves for their first three games of the new season, if he goes to the 2008 summer Olympics as one of Brazil's permitted over age players.

The Olympic football tournament is a U-23 tournament, but each side is allowed three over age players. The clubs must however grant permission to the overage players. Milan and Bayern have refused to allow Kaka and Lucio to go, and many overage Brazilians playing for Europe's top clubs face the same situation. Alves has expressed his desire to represent his country come August in Beijing, but will Southgate be willing to let one of his top players go ?

Meanwhile the former Heerenveen striker could have to end up paying £5.9m in compensation to Dutch club AZ Alkmaar after they claimed that he broke a pre contract agreement with them by joining Boro. AZ coach Louis Vaan Gaal has reportedly told a hearing panel that the player had a medical and was told by him to come for training on January 7.