BRYAN ROBSON's infatuation with Brazilian football edged a little closer towards final disillusionment yesterday as Middlesbrough's despondent midfield player, Emerson, failed to meet the club's latest deadline to return to the Riverside Stadium.

Not since Captain James Cook, more than 200 years ago, has anyone generated such pride in Middlesbrough as their three Brazilians, and the similarity is increasingly striking: they seem to have as much of a hankering for leaving the place.

Captain Cook made three voyages before his death in a scuffle on the coast of North America in 1776. The passing of three Brazilians might well prove equally terminal to Middlesbrough's ambitions to become one of the Premiership's major forces.

Branco has already gone, Emerson's whereabouts remains a mystery - Robson is willing for the moment to believe reports that he is visiting a sick aunt - and even Juninho's faltering expressions of loyalty yesterday to TV and radio had the air of stage management about them.

Rob son, Boro's manager, adopted a less dogmatic line than his chairman, Steve Gibson, as yesterday's 10 a.m. deadline expired for the return of Emerson, who Robson signed from Porto for £4 million in the summer.

"Emerson is definitely in Brazil, that's all I know," Rob son said. "He is in breach of contract, but I'm taking no action for now. I want to chat to him first. I'd rather resolve this situation by helping him and his partner settle on Teesside."

Middlesbrough now say that they expect Emerson to return next week. His girlfriend, Andrea, is reported to be homesick, and no amount of contemplating Tees Bay as the winds whip in off the North Sea, has promised to alleviate the symptoms.

One member of the Emerson family has stayed behind on Teesside. His cousin, Flavio, has been staying at Emerson's house and has even trained with Boro's first team squad, presumably in the hope that Robson is so enamoured by Brazilians that he offers him a contract.