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Neil Warnock: 'I'd like a couple of wide players in January - but I'd happily go with what we've got'
NEIL WARNOCK is not concerned by the size of his Middlesbrough squad, and is adamant he will not be looking to make a host of additions during the…
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk
Neil Warnock: 'I'd like a couple of wide players in January - but I'd happily go with what we've got'
NEIL WARNOCK is not concerned by the size of his Middlesbrough squad, and is adamant he will not be looking to make a host of additions during the…
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk
[Edited]
Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock outlines his January transfer plans
By Scott Wilson Chief Sports Writer
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock is happy with the squad that is currently at his disposal
NEIL WARNOCK is not concerned by the size of his Middlesbrough squad, and is adamant he will not be looking to make a host of additions during the January transfer window.
Having been unable to sign anyone of transfer-deadline day in October, Warnock is presiding over one of the smallest squads in the Championship, and there have been times in the last month when he has been unable to select a full quota of nine substitutes.
Ideally, he would like to bring in a couple of attacking wide players next month, with Kamil Grosicki and Yannick Bolasie both long-standing targets.
However, will not be making major financial demands of Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson, and insists he will not be too disappointed if he has to see out the rest of the campaign with the current squad.
“Sometimes, I think working with a small squad can work in your favour,” said Warnock, ahead of today’s trip to Stoke. “I’ve said to Kev (Blackwell) and Ron (Jepson) that doesn’t bother me at all now. If we had to go with this group to the end of the season, it wouldn’t bother me.
“We’re looking to see if we can bring a wide player in, or even two, and we might lose the odd player. But Steve knows that come January, I’m not going to be bashing his door down asking for money. I’m not like that. Sometimes, you buy or sign players just for the sake of it and it disrupts what you have.
“I like the way we are at the minute. If we had couple of bad injuries that might change things, and we do need the likes of Ashley Fletcher and Grant Hall back. But at the moment, I’m happy with where we’re at. We’ve got enough on the bench to change things.”
Patrick Roberts has been on the bench in six of the last seven games, with his only start in that period coming in the 3-0 home win over Derby County.
Having been an unused substitute in last weekend’s defeat at Huddersfield, Roberts found himself overlooked from the bench again as Boro beat Swansea on Wednesday, but Warnock is confident the Manchester City loanee will get plenty of opportunities to impress, even if he accepts his current tactics are making it difficult for him to carve out a niche in the team.
“With a squad like we’ve got, he’ll get chances,” he said. “There are certain games where you look at the opponents and not necessarily think you could get away with it, but just know you could give him an opportunity in the penalty area.
“There’s no point in playing him in an area he’s not comfortable. For example, my lads at the minute, if they’re playing wide, are having to chase full-backs. That’s not Patrick’s game really. It’s just a matter of trying to get him in the right areas when I put him on or when he plays. He’s training hard enough.”
Middlesbrough (probable, 4-3-3): Bettinelli; Spence, Fry, McNair, Bola; Saville, Howson, Morsy; Tavernier, Assombalonga, Johnson.
