Martin Braithwaite could return to Middlesbrough as Denmark row rumbles on

Braithwaite and his fellow countrymen - including Tottenham's Christian Eriksen and Leicester City stopper Kasper Schmeichel - remain locked in a dispute with the Danish Football Association (DBU) concerning commercial deals.

Denmark failed to renegotiate a suitable commercial sponsorship agreement after their previous deal expired, with players unhappy with the proposals put forward by the DBU.

There were hopes that a deal could be agreed prior to the upcoming international window but, after talks in Copenhagen last week - at which Braithwaite is believed to have been present - a positive outcome could not be reached.

Middlesbrough striker Braithwaite was set to form part of the Danish squad to take on Slovakia this evening and Wales in their UEFA Nations League opener on Sunday but, as part of the ongoing dispute, has been dumped from the squad.

The DBU asked players to take to the field for these two games under the terms of the previous agreement but that offer was rejected - meaning that Braithwaite and others were kicked-off of the squad.

That left the Danish federation hunting for new players and they have managed to cobble together a squad of third and four tier domestic players and futsal internationals in order to fulfil their next two fixtures.

This in turn could have negative effects for the DBU, with UEFA reserving the right to suspended nations who breach their rules on squad selection.

Such news leaves Braithwaite in a state of limbo and means that the striker could return to Teesside to train with his club teammates as talks rumble on.

He was thought to be in Copenhagen earlier this week but could now return to the North East.

The 27-year-old asked to leave the Riverside Stadium before the transfer window closed but - with a deal unable to be agreed - he looks set to remain on Teesside until January at the earliest.