Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson hopes to finally unveil Gordon Strachan as the club's new manager on Monday.

It emerged that an expected announcement of Gareth Southgate's successor will not now come over the weekend, but sources on Teesside insist there is no hitch and that the delay is simply down to putting the finishing touches to the deal.

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It is understood Strachan will not now watch Boro from the stands at Preston on Saturday, but his former Celtic number two Gary Pendry could.

But whatever is happening off the pitch, caretaker-boss Colin Cooper, assisted by Steve Agnew and Stephen Pears, is concentrating only on what he and the players can affect on it.

Cooper said: "Who the next manager is has got nothing to do with me, Aggers and Pearsy. Our brief is to go to Preston and win hopefully.

"I have spoken to the chairman and he explained what's expected of us. He expects us to get the team prepared and to get the emotional side away and go to Preston and get a positive result, nothing less."

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