Neil Warnock’s side have won just three of their 11 games this campaign and suffered their fifth defeat at the hands of Hull City heading into the international break.
It has led to a growing disgruntlement at the Riverside as supporters begin to question whether or not the experienced Warnock is the right man for the job despite having guided the club to Championship safety upon his arrival at the end of the delayed 2019-20 season.
A 10th placed finish last year gave Boro fans cause for optimism heading into the new season that they could push on and look towards the Championship play-off places this time around but that, as yet, has failed to materialise.
Warnock has had to endure a rough time with injuries in the opening months of the campaign as a number of key defenders have led to the Boro boss being unable to settle on both a team and a formation.
Full-back’s Anfernee Dijksteel and Darnell Fisher remain injured along with concerns over centre back Dael Fry who went off in that defeat to Hull.
Left-back Marc Bola has also struggled with his fitness as Warnock declared the injury crisis ‘a mess’ before the international break.
But with the transfer window shut until January Warnock has little he can do to strengthen his side after admitting the challenges of bringing in free agents.
Warnock revealed he would love to add players to his squad – particularly down Boro’s left-hand-side – but conceded he may just have to ‘muck on’ with what he’s got as Boro prepare for a crunch double header at the Riverside in the space of three days when the Championship resumes next weekend.
Boro host two sides in the relegation zone in Peterborough United and Barnsley before a trip to struggling Cardiff City as Warnock looks to wrestle back control on Teesside.
But while Warnock may be concerned over the difficulties of bringing in free agents, we thought we would look at a number of defenders without a club who could potentially help the Boro boss between now and January.
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9. Adrian Mariappa
The experienced Mariappa is without a club since leaving Bristol City in the summer but is more than well versed in Championship experience. The 35-year-old featured 25 times in the league for the Robins last year demonstrating he can still compete at this level and could be a more than useful figure for Boro. Mariappa and Warnock briefly crossed paths in 2014 during Warnock’s second stint at Crystal Palace. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Photo: Michael Steele
10. Armand Traore
The sky was seemingly the limit for Traore when he arrived on the scene at Arsenal from Monaco. But the teenager struggled to break into a talented Gunners side and would spend a number of seasons out on loan at Portsmouth and Juventus before Boro boss Warnock made the left back his number one defensive target in 2011 when in charge of Queens Park Rangers. Traore spent five years at Loftus Road before moving on to Nottingham Forest when Warnock would sign the Senegal international again at Cardiff City. Clearly Traore is a player Warnock admires and could solve a number of left-sided problems at the Riverside. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images) Photo: James Chance
11. Neil Taylor
Experienced Welsh fullback Taylor has been without a club since leaving Aston Villa in the summer. Capable of filling in at either fullback role, the 32-year-old would help prevent Warnock from ushering players out of position by providing more than adequate cover for Marc Bola. Taylor has vast experience at both Premier League and Championship level and would still be able to offer a number of years service at the Riverside. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images) Photo: Harry Trump