Berwick Rangers last night launched a desperate search for former Republic of Ireland keeper Packie Bonner in the hope of playing him on Saturday in the Scottish League Cup tie against his previous employers Celtic.

Bonner, capped 80 times for his country, is without a club after leaving Parkhead when his contract expired in the summer.

Berwick boss Jimmy Thomson believes it would be unfair to use 21-year-old goalkeeper Michael Burgess in the Tynecastle second round showdown.

And he is anxious to trace Bonner, who was not answering calls at his home last night. "I was bouncing a few ideas in my head last night when I thought of Bonner," said Thomson. "This is a big, big game for us and it would great to have someone like him between the posts because of his experience.

"But I need to talk to him first to see if we can come to a deal, either on a short or long-term basis."

In England, Arsenal yesterday gave their former England captain David Platt permission to negotiate personal terms for a move to first division Middlesbrough.

But Highbury chief Arsene Wenger has refuted Bryan Robson's claim that a £2million deal had already been agreed between the clubs.

Robson said he had thrashed out a £1.5 million price-tag for the 31-year-old midfielder, with the Gunners receiving a further £500,000 after Platt had played a stipulated number of games for Middlesbrough. According to Robson, Platt has only to agree personal terms now. He said: "It is 95 per cent done and I am very hopeful that Platt will fancy the challenge at Middlesbrough. He is experienced and a leader on the pitch."

But Wenger, who only a month ago stunned Arsenal fans by selling Paul Merson to Middlesbrough for £4.5 million, insisted: "Nothing has happened yet."

Platt said: "I became aware of Middlesbrough's interest last night (Wednesday) and this afternoon spoke on the telephone with Bryan Robson."

Robson, though, is delighted at the prospect of buying Platt and said: "Everybody knows about his ratio of goals from midfield, while he can operate in a variety of positions."

"He can also speak Italian and that will be a great help to me with explaining tactics to Fabrizio Ravanelli and Gianluca Festa."

Arsenal, meanwhile, added to their list of foreign signings yesterday by completing Liberian striker Christopher Wreh's free transfer from Monaco.

Wreh, a 22-year-old cousin of AC Milan ace George Weah, has been training with the Gunners for several weeks but vice chairman David Dein had to fly to France to sort out a compensation deal - believed to be around £300,000 - for the player.

Shelbourne FC have requested that any supporters planning to pick up tickets for next Thursday's European Cup Winners' Cup match in Kilmarnock do so by tomorrow. The official club party is departing for Scotland on Tuesday morning and so the club's Tolka Park office will not be open to deal with ticket inquiries next week. Tickets for the forthcoming international match between Ireland and Lithuania are also now available from the club.