Premiership: Boro chase young Norwegian star

Middlesbrough have confirmed their interest in Norwegian youngster Morten Gamst Pedersen.

The highly-rated 20-year-old Tromso striker is firmly in the sights of Boro boss Steve McClaren, although the Teessiders have played down reports that he has been offered a 10-day trial with the club following the conclusion of his domestic season.

They initially tried to bring him to England in September, but his club rejected that approach as they attempted as it turned out in vain to avoid relegation.

‘‘He’s a player we are interested in but we have made no arrangements to take it any further,’’ a club spokesman said today.

Meanwhile, Boro are also being linked with Rochdale’s in-form frontman Kevin Townson.

The 18-year-old Liverpool-born player has scored 10 goals so far this season, seven of them in the league to help Dale to second place in the third division table.