Boro striker Yakubu fails to get work permit

NEW Middlesbrough striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu’s application for a work permit has been rejected.

The 22-year-old, as expected, has failed in his initial attempt to get the permit because he has not played the required 75% of games for Nigeria in the last two years.

However, Boro have been preparing all along for an appeal against that automatic decision, and that will be heard on Monday. The club, who were not commenting on the matter yesterday, remain confident of a successful outcome after building up a dossier, including a letter from the Nigerian FA confirming he would have played more often had it not been for a disciplinary dispute, to support its case.