EMERSON will be thrown straight back into action tonight with Middlesbrough reserves. The Brazilian will swop the summer heat of Rio for the winter cold of the Pennines when he faces Huddersfield at the McAlpine Stadium in a Pontins League game.

The £4 million midfielder now looks almost certain to play at Liverpool on Saturday. Emerson went back into training with his Middlesbrough team-mates yesterday and afterwards manager Bryan Robson said:

"It's possible he will play at Huddersfield.

"I've got to have a chat with him first but I'm thinking about it." Emerson has been a runaway success in every sense, and his ability almost guarantees he will involved at Anfield even though he is not match fit.

"If the training goes well, I will consider him. I have to anyway; we're running out of numbers", added Robson.

"He definitely needs a decent week's training but he's not too bad. He's a lad who has quite a bit of natural fitness.

Emerson has played just once since November 3rd - a League Cup match two weeks ago. It is the only game Middlesbrough have won in the last 12. Robson is planning talks with the 24-year-old before setting up a meeting 19 discuss the problems at the club.

This will involve Emerson, his 21-year-old wife Andrea - who is unhappy with life on Teesside - Robson, chairman Steve Gibson and chief executive Keith Lamb.

"We want to try to make Emerson and his wife happy," Robson said. "They're both back here and we'll meet to try to iron out a few things.

We have to see what can be done to help because we want a player who is happy. It is important to find out what her main concerns are and,, try to assist as much as we can.

Barcelona's interest in Emerson - the cause of his problems, according to Middlesbrough - is over. They have signed Nigerian midfielder Emmanuel Amunike from Sporting Lisbon for £2.3 million and manager Bobby Robson said: "I have no interest in Emerson and have not tried to sign him.

"Why he has behaved in this way I do not know. I spoke to Bryan Rob son three weeks ago on another matter and told him to get the lad back and sort it out if he could.

"Emerson is a player who would improve any team. I had him at Porto and he helped me win two championships. If he was available I would have been interested but he is not available."