Everything Neil Warnock said about Patrick Roberts as Middlesbrough close in on signing Manchester City playmaker

The 23-year-old impressed at the Riverside last season but returned to his parent club in July.

Boro boss Neil Warnock wants to sign another creative player before the end of the transfer window and the Teessiders have until October 16 to bring in players on loan.

“The paperwork isn’t quite done but hopefully we’ll have him on board for the next game,” said Warnock when asked about Roberts following Boro’s 2-1 win over Barnsley.

Warnock said no other deals are close but did admit on Thursday the club have asked about signing another centre-back.

The Boro boss said he was a big fan of Roberts last season, and hopes he can get the best out of the playmaker when he returns.

“I thought he had good games and I thought he had mediocre games,” added Warnock. “He’s not going anywhere else. I think Manchester City have made it clear to him.

“Once again it’s down to me to try and get the best out of him, he might not start every game but we have so many games coming up.

“We only had 18 players today and are thin but I don’t feel like we should be spending stupid money, I’m sure Steve (Gibson) thinks it’s music to his ears.”

Warnock thinks Roberts can operate in the attacking midfield position behind the strikers in a 3-5-2 formation, but also said the side could switch to 4-3-3.

The Boro boss also believes Roberts will be joining a different team compared to when he signed for the club in January last year.

“I had a good chat with him yesterday and he’s looking forward to it, if he gets his head up and is confident,” Warnock added.

“I think he’s coming into a different team to what he played last year.

“I do believe we are a different team to last year and I think he’ll get more of the ball in areas where he’s dangerous, that’s how I see him.”

Boro won’t play for two weeks due to an international break, with Reading set to visit the Riverside on October 17.

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