MIDDLESBROUGH are bracing themselves for a bid from Newcastle United for their England centre-half Jonathan Woodgate.
 That was the news coming out of Teesside today as Kevin Keegan and his right-hand men Terry McDermott and Arthur Cox scour Europe for a top central defender. And on his day – and when he is fit – they do not come any better than Woodgate who, of course, had a short spell at St James’s Park after Sir Bobby Robson paid £9m to bring him from Leeds United in January 2003. It was Keegan who gave Woodgate his England debut against Bulgaria in 1999, and there is no doubt that he rates the Middlesbrough defender who celebrated his 28th birthday yesterday very highly indeed. The word coming out of Teesside is that Woodgate is disenchanted with life at the Riverside Stadium, and that he would be interested in a move back to United. Woodgate was Middlesbrough vice-captain, but when regular skipper George Boateng lost his place Gareth Southgate has been reluctant to throw him the armband. United striker Shola Ameobi has a lot of fans among managers both in the Premier League and the Championship. Southgate is one of them and if he gives in on his fight to keep Woodgate at Middlesbrough, then he is likely to insist on the United striker going in the opposite direction. Obviously, Middlesbrough would fight to keep Woodgate, just as they did when United and Glenn Roeder first wanted Mark Viduka in the summer of 2006. Woodgate only started 28 games for United in the Premier League, but he is still the best central defender I have seen in a black-and-white shirt in the last 30 years. As far as signings are concerned Keegan could hardly have picked a worse time to return as United manager with the transfer window slamming shut again a week tomorrow. But today was a big day for United central defender Steven Taylor who chalked up his 22nd birthday. And Taylor will be relishing clashing with Emmanuel Adebayor on Saturday – if Arsene Wenger plays the Togo striker. But Taylor will not have any inferiority complex when he heads for The Emirates after scoring United’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal at St James’s Park early last month. Meanwhile, United fans are really showing their support for Keegan. For the club announced today that they have sold out their full allocation of 5,000 tickets for Saturday’s tie at The Emirates. And they will have another 3,000 of the travelling Toon Army for the Premier League game on Tuesday night. :: AUSTRALIA coach Pim Verbeek has named 39 players in his preliminary squad for their World Cup qualifier against Qatar on February 6 – including United’s James Troisi, but not – Mark Viduka. Magpies forward Viduka is considering international retire-ment, but has yet to make a final decision. | 
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