Jonathan Woodgate insists Britt Assombalonga will come good ahead of QPR clash

Assombalonga, 26, hasn’t scored for four league games and missed what Woodgate called an ‘easy opportunity’ during last weekend’s defeat at Derby.

Yet Woodgate says the striker, who has been Boro’s top scorer for the last two seasons, is working hard to rediscover his form.

“I always speak to my players, offer advice in different situations,” said Woodgate when asked about Assombalonga. “He will come good and I believe in him. His record shows he will score in the Championship. He is going through one of those patches.

“He is positive. Britt is good, he is a good lad. People can look from the outside and think in general players aren’t trying and that is maybe because they are low on confidence.

“They might not always want the ball in certain situations but it’s not a lack of trying it’s maybe a lack of confidence.”

Boro will be hoping to end an eight-game winless run when they face QPR at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium today.

And while expecting another tough game against a side which has scored 24 league goals this season, Woodgate believes Mark Warburton’s side are vulnerable at the back.

“They’ve conceded a lot of goals this season but they have scored a lot with the likes of Jordan Hugill, Nahki Wells and (Eberechi) Eze,” said Woodgate. “That’s three really good players going forward but they do concede.”