'His stats were unbelievable': Neil Warnock reveals how Middlesbrough man can be recalled ahead of Reading clash
Neil Warnok says Marvin Johnson has been unlucky to drop out of Middlesbrough’s side but could benefit from the team’s change of formation.
Johnson has started on the bench for Boro’s last three games and appears to have fallen down the pecking order following the arrivals of Yannick Bolasie, Neeskens Kebano and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in January.
The Teessiders changed formation to play with a back three and wing-backs during their 2-1 win over Huddersfield last time out.
Warnock would prefer to play with a 4-3-3 system but says it would suit Johnson if Boro continue to play with wing-backs.
"I've gone with other players in that area but he's really unlucky,” said Warnock when asked about Johnson.
"I said that to him yesterday, he was super yesterday in training. I just said to him, you just have to keep going Marvin.
"When he came on the other night, the running he did, I won't go into detail, but it was unbelievable the amount of running he did in such a short space of time. We always look at stats and his stats were unbelievable.
“He's very much a part but at the moment (Marc) Bola is playing as well as I've seen him. We have wide players who can play there now in Kebano and Yannick.
“It's a matter of biding his time. If we did carry on playing five at the back, he's probably the best wing-back we've got, so it puts pressure on Bola to keep getting his finger out.”