Mido has again failed to turn up for training at Middlesbrough. Gareth Southgate, the Championship club's manager, is understood to have expected his Egyptian striker back today after Mido's no-show all last week but was again let down when he did not appear.

Like Afonso Alves, who neglected to turn up for training at Boro last Monday and Tuesday before finally clocking in on Wednesday, Mido has already been fined two weeks' wages in his absence and severely reprimanded during a phone call with Southgate late last week.

Such sanctions appear to have had little effect, leaving Boro - who declined to comment on the situation - to ponder further punishments. Offloading Mido may be the best option. With the striker's apparent hopes of being signed for Sunderland by Steve Bruce fading fast, he could conceivably return to Cairo.

Zamalek have contacted Boro about taking Mido on a season-long loan and, moreover, are ready to pay £1m in an effort to persuade the Teesside club to agree to this arrangement. Southgate loaned Mido to Bruce's former club, Wigan, during the second half of last season after a bitter fallout with the centre forward signed from Tottenham for £6m two years ago.

Meanwhile, Tuncay is back in Boro training after being given an additional week's holiday following international duty with Turkey. The forward continues to attract serious interest from Aston Villa but Sunderland are also monitoring his position.