McDonald set for Boro

Socceroo striker Scott McDonald is set to make a transfer deadline day move to English Championship side Middlesbrough, where he will re-unite with former Celtic coach Gordon Strachan.

Boro, currently eighth and only four points out of a playoff spot, are set to offer the Scottish giants 3.5 million pounds for the Australian, who has been struggling for game time under current boss Tony Mowbray.

Several British papers have reported that McDonald will be on the move on the eve of the transfer deadline as he bids to get more game time ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

McDonald has fallen out of favour with Australia coach Pim Verbeek in the lead-up to the showpiece tournament and while he would be stepping back into second-tier football, the resultant game time and a return to form could see him back in the selection fray when Verbeek picks his squad in May.

The diminutive striker has scored 12 goals for Celtic this season, while he scored 18 last year and 26 in a memorable debut season for the Glasgow club in 2007-08.

Cardiff and Scotland striker Ross McCormack is among many strikers currently linked to Celtic, which is languishing 10 points behind bitter rivals Rangers in the battle for the SPL.