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New boy Viktor Fischer is set to jet to Japan today in a bid to follow in the footsteps of past Boro heroes.

The £3.8m signing from Ajax - the first of Aitor Karanka’s summer rebuild after promotion to the Premier league - is flying out with the Denmark national side to play in the Kirin Cup.

Flanker Fischer, 21, has played at every youth level for Denmark and has eight full caps.

He has played 111 games for Ajax and scored 33 goals in a career in Holland that has seen him claim two titles, a cup and play in both the Europa and Champions League.

Fischer is part of Åge Hareide’s squad who will play Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday in Aichi before facing either Japan or Bulgaria in Osaka next Tuesday 7 June in the Final or the third/fourth play-off.

The Denmark squad also includes Leicester’s title winning keeper Kasper Schmeichel and Spurs midfielder Christian Eriksen.

The Kirin Cup is a four team international event now but in a previous incarnation top flight clubs from around the world were invited to play Japan’s national side and Boro were one of a string of big names to lift the trophy.

John Neal’s side celebrated trophy triumph in June 1980. They beat Barcelona-based Spanish side Espanyol 4-3 on penalties in the final after a 1-1 draw.

In the round robin qualifying group they thrashed Argentinos Juniors 4-0 and also beat Japan 2-1 and China 3-1.

The Boro squad included Mark Proctor, David Armstrong, Craig Johnston, David Hodgeson and Billy Ashcroft.

Other winners of the Kirin Cup before it switched to an international event include Spurs, Santos, Werder Bremen, Newcastle, Flamengo and Borussia Mönchengladbach.