With rumours that Jonathan Woodgate is a target of Glenn Roeder in January, the media have suggested the ex-Toon defender will be recalled to Real Madrid in January.
He is currently on loan at the Riverside Stadium, and actually turned down Newcastle in the summer, but Real could want him back for their own reasons. The Madrid side are having another below-par season, and slumped to a shock 3-0 home defeat to Huelva on Wednesday.
Middlesbrough statement (on the website): "There is simply no issue. Jonathan will remain on loan with us until the end of the season. The rumours are nothing more than scaremongering by someone in the media."
Woodgate, who has been plagued by injury all his career, missed Monday's defeat at Fulham with an ankle injury.