Celtic captain Stephen McManus joins Middlesborough on loan

• McManus made 148 appearances for Celtic in his ten years at the club

McManus will team up with former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan at the Riverside until the end of the season.

Earlier this month Strachan signed a trio of Celtic stars - Barry Robson, Willo Flood and Chris Killen - for his new club.

And today Celtic left-back Danny Fox was snapped up by Premiership club Burnley.

Current Celtic manager Mowbray, who had already given the green light to the player's exit, said: "The ink on the contract is drying as we speak."

Mowbray continued: "I had a conversation with Stephen this morning and he is looking forward to the challenge.

"We wish him well, it's a club I know well and I hope he does well for them, I'm sure he will."

The Celtic boss admitted he has had talks with Scott McDonald who has also been linked with a move to Middlesbrough and West Ham.

He said: "McDonald has got to get on with his rehabilitation.

"I won't sit here and deny there has been conversations with Scott and they have been interesting chats but at the moment there is nothing to say either way.

"He is our top scorer and I would prefer to keep him."