How Middlesbrough turned their transfer window around after deadline day swoop for Fulham's Neeskens Kebano and ex-Cardiff man Nathaniel Mendez-Laing

The Boro boss still appeared dejected following the weekend’s 1-0 defeat by Blackburn, when defender Dael Fry was forced off with a freak injury which left a nasty cut below the centre-back’s eye.

In addition to that, after being stuck in traffic on the way to his pre-match press conference, Warnock revealed Boro had missed out on two Premier League attackers who he felt were available on loan.

With less than a week to go until the end of the transfer window, Boro were still yet to make an outfield signing.

Fast forward seven days, and there is a palpable sense of optimism around the Riverside again.

After the arrivals of Yannick Bolasie and full-back Darnell Fisher last week, Boro managed to bolster their attacking options further on deadline day, bringing in former Cardiff winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Fulham playmaker Neeskens Kebano on loan.

Warnock’s priority at the start of the window was to add more firepower to his forward line, particularly on the flanks where he had been forced to play full-backs Hayden Coulson and Djed Spence at times.

Some may argue Mendez-Laing and Bolasie haven’t played in the first half of the campaign, and Warnock has admitted it will take the pair a few weeks to get up to speed.

They may not have been Boro’s first-choice options, yet both have arrived on short-term deals and clearly have ability.

Warnock also knows more than most what Mendez-Laing and Bolasie are capable of after getting the best out of them at Cardiff and Crystal Palace respectively.

If the attacking duo can rediscover the form they found at those two clubs, they will be a handful in the Championship.

The late capture of Kebano also looks like a fine addition, particularly after Warnock said Boro had been tracking the player for weeks.

It’s quite possible the 28-year-old is one of the players Warnock felt he had missed out on last week.

Kebano has played as a winger but predominantly operated in a central attacking position. He is a creator, someone who likes to get on the ball and open up defences.

Boro didn’t really have that player in the first half of the campaign, and while the midfield combination of Jonny Howson, Sam Morsy and George Saville gave the side solidity, the Teessiders’ engine room lacked a creative spark.

The aforementioned arrivals made it viable for Patrick Roberts’ loan deal from Manchester City to be ended early, allowing the playmaker to join Derby until the end of the season.

Roberts, 23, clearly had talent, yet his four league starts this season showed he didn’t fit into Warnock’s side.

Midfielder Lewis Wing will also hope for more regular game time after joining Rotherham on loan . Kebano’s arrival would have bumped him further down the pecking order.

Another deadline day deal saw defender Nathan Wood loaned out to League One side Crewe. Some may be worried about a lack of cover at centre-back, yet Warnock believes he has enough cover with Grant Hall back from injury and Marc Bola able to switch roles.

What a difference a week makes.

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