Middlesbrough hope to bolster their squad further with the addition of Hull City striker Caleb Folan in the next few days after comppleting a loan deal for Sean St Ledger on Tuesday.

Both Republic of Ireland internationals, 26-year-old Folan looks to be on his way to the Riverside on a loan deal, while St Ledger, 24, has arrived on a three-month loan from Preston with a view to making the move permanent in January.

Folan, who has been left on the fringes of the first-team at the KC Stadium following the summer arrivals of Jozy Altidore, Kamel Ghilas and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, seems to be have opted for Boro ahead of North East rivals Newcastle.

The signing of the striker, who is just beginning to establish himself at international level, would help boost the Teesiders' bid for an instant return to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Preston chairman Derek Shaw revealed the club's financial situation meant that they had no choice but to let St Ledger leave Deepdale for their Championship rivals.

"My honest view is if we don't do this type of thing we'll be getting ten points deducted and we'll end up going into administration," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Everybody saw the Southampton situation in the summer. They've seen it at Derby and at Bradford and we don't want it to happen here."