MIDDLESBROUGH defender Christian Burgess has moved to Peterborough. 

The centre-half was expected to return to Hartlepool United this season, after an impressive campaign on loan last time out.

But instead, he's moved to London Road signing a month-long loan deal which enables him to be on the bench against Sheffield United this evening, before penning a permanent four-year contract.

He will team up at Posh with Jack Baldwin in defence this season - replicating the partnership they enjoyed at Pools last season, before Baldwin moved to London Road on transfer deadline day in January.

Burgess played against Pools for Boro in a pre-season friendly, but when he wasn't awarded a squad number at the Riverside this season, it looked like his future would be away from the club. 

Posh are aiming to land Pools' striker Luke James and it was claimed today that Pools have rejected a bid in the region of £1m for the teenager, who yesterday handed in a transfer request at Victoria Park

James starts for Pools this evening against Dagenham at Victoria Park, with starts for Ryan Brobbel and Michael Woods. 

Marlon Harwood is dropped to the bench and Tommy Miller injured.

POOLS: Flinders; Duckworth, Bates, Austin, Holden; Parnaby; Walker, Brobbel; Woods, James, Franks. Subs: Dixon (gk), Collins, Harewood, Compton, Hawkins, Richards, Smith. 

DAGENHAM: O'Brien, Connors, Doe, Saah, Cureton, Ogogo, Chambers, Howell, Partridge, Hemmings, Boucaud. Subs: Cousins, Doidge, Porter, Labadie, Green, Howell, Gayle.

Referee: Peter Bankes (Liverpool)