NINETEEN names in a column on a sheet of A4 paper sitting on Bryan Robson's desk yesterday afternoon: the Middlesbrough squad for tomorrow's televised trip to Elland Road. Penned by Robson's steady hand, it had a familiar look, except that when it came to the 19th name on the list there followed a thick question-mark.
In heavier ink, it seemed as though the outline of the questionmark had been traced at least twice, but then that would have been no surprise because the name in question belongs to one of Middlesbrough's magic figures - Juninho.
Yes, a fortnight short of the fourth anniversary of his Samba shuffle into England, Oswaldo Giroldo Junior is back on Teesside and, yes, he did train with the Boro team yesterday morning. Furthermore he has passed his medical examination that was not straightforward given his broken leg of last year.
Despite him not having played in any of Atletico Madrid's four matches this season, Juninho displayed sufficient fitness and commitment to have had a metaphorical foot on the Boro team bus, albeit it temporarily. But no, even though the work permit problem has been overcome and international clearance is expected today, the official unveiling of the little Brazilian's second coming in English football was being stalled.
Yesterday Robson began his comments with: "I can't say too much," although thankfully he elaborated on that. "Juninho's here," he said, "but we're trying to tie up a few loose ends because it hasn't gone through 100 per cent yet. I can't say yes or no whether Juninho will be involved in the squad for Sunday. He's trained with us today and he looks not bad at all. We're hoping it is going to happen before five o'clock."
But just after this deadline it was announced that not all the relevant paperwork was in place and that Juninho will not be available to Robson tomorrow. Tuesday night's League Cup second leg against Chesterfield is set to acquire added significance instead - Robson's question-mark had been justified.
Robson said: "Our aim is for Juninho to come in and play like he did the season he left. If Juninho does that, it's a great deal for us and Juninho will be enjoying his football again." The proposed transfer is a loan deal until the end of the season, when both parties will examine the next move, and Juninho is already talking in the present tense about his return. "I hope I can play the way I did when I was here before," he said. "My objective is to play well and stay more years. I have missed the club and the fans and it's great to be back." There would have been a certain symmetry had his Boro career resumed against Leeds. In November 1995 he made his debut against them and Elland Road was the venue where a tearful conclusion was reached 19 months later. The 1-1 draw that day left Boro relegated and Juninho "weeping inside".
Six days after that they lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup final, having already lost to Leicester in the League Cup final. The scorer for Leeds that May day in 1997 was Brian Deane, now of course a Middlesbrough player. Deane just happens to wear Juninho's No 10 shirt, too, and No 23 will be the Brazilian's new number, although the No 16 became free yesterday when Andy Townsend joined West Bromwich.
Perhaps Townsend sensed Juninho's arrival, following those of Paul Ince and Christian Ziege, and saw Boro's midfield getting mighty crowded. But there is a legitimate theory that the man who should be worried most about Juninho is Paul Gascoigne.
Gascoigne's was not one of Robson's 19 names. "Gazza hurt his calf against Liverpool," said Robson. "It's a precautionary move."
Juninho was voted Middlesbrough's Player of the Century during his first Teesside incarnation; Gascoigne was voted The Most Disappointing Player last season in the local fanzine. It would be understandable if Gascoigne was worried about his place, and the moving of the limelight.
