Taylor's sick of the travel blues

'I would much rather give them their opportunity than, say, bring in four or five overseas players that I don't know too much about.'

Nevertheless, he is planning to play 22-year-old Joey Gudjonsson against Boro after the Iceland midfielder last night received international clearance following his loan transfer from Real Betis.

Villa are waiting to see whether the Spanish club follow up initial enquiries for Colombia striker Juan Pablo Angel by pursuing a loan deal.

Taylor hinted that all was not well in the relationship with the £9.5million forward, who has complained publicly that he has not been given a 'fair deal' this season.

Taylor said: 'Juan's complaint doesn't hold water because I've included him in every match squad except the last two, despite him telling me from the day I took over as manager that he would like to move to another club. That's always been beneath the surface and it is disappointing when players don't come knocking on your door before they air their feelings publicly.'

Middlesbrough look like making up for the the collapse of their deal for Seth Johnson by landing Derby pair Malcolm Christie and Chris Riggott.

Boro manager Steve McClaren was last night on the brink of securing both players on an initial three-month loan with a £3m fee agreed for them in the summer.

Negotiations for centre half Riggott and striker Christie have been ongoing for two weeks but Bolton, the only other club to show interest in the players, have been ruled out by a lack of funds.

Derby were eager to land a fee for the pair before the transfer window closes at the end of this week to ease their financial problems, but Middlesbrough will not have the money until the summer.

As Sportsmail revealed on Saturday, Johnson failed a medical because of longstanding knee problems, so a deal that would have involved most of the £3.5m being paid in the summer was scuppered.