Aiyegbeni Yakubu has missed Middlesbrough training this morning.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Riverside Stadium throughout the summer with Everton currently thought to be leading the race for his signature.

It is understood the Nigeria international did not train with his team-mates either on Monday or Tuesday, further fuelling talk that his days with the club he joined from Portsmouth for £7.5million in July 2005 could be drawing to a close.

Boro were not commenting on Yakubu's situation, although manager Gareth Southgate has repeatedly insisted he is not for sale.