Neil Warnock hopeful Middlesbrough can make another signing before Watford trip plus Dael Fry and injury update ahead of Shrewsbury clash

Boro have made just one new addition this summer, following the arrival of Grant Hall on a free transfer from QPR, and have missed out on several targets.

Warnock has admitted it’s unlikely the club will complete any more deals this week as his side prepare for Friday’s Carabao Cup tie against Shrewsbury Town.

“I’ve missed out on a few but I’m not really worried,” said Warnock in his pre-match press conference via Zoom. “If I miss out on a player because they go somewhere else I always think it’s their loss.

“We’re still looking for players. I’m optimistic we might get one next week.”

Despite the lack of signings Warnock has been impressed with some of the club’s younger players during pre-season, picking out centre-back Nathan Wood, wingers Marcus Browne and Sam Folarin and forward Stephen Walker.

“We’ve got some good young lads - Wood and Browne. They’ve done well pre-season. Walker and people like that.

“Sam Folarin has been exciting. I’ve loved watching him. He’ll be involved tomorrow against Shrewsbury. I need three or four good players to supplement that."

Warnock said he’ll name a full strength side against Shrewsbury but will be without midfielders Paddy McNair and George Saville who are away on international duty.

Centre-back Dael Fry will be available after missing Boro’s pre-season trip to Cornwall but Hayden Coulson will miss out through illness.

“Hayden Coulson hasn’t been well but it’s not covid. He’s tested negative,” added Warnock. “I thought he wasn’t himself last week, he should be ok for training next week.”

“Dael Fry didn’t play last week, I put Woodsy in and he was super. That’s given me something else to ponder. Do we need another centre-half or can Woodsy play there?

"Paddy has played centre-half as well and he was like Beckenbauer.”

Boro played with a 3-5-2 formation during pre-season and are likely to stick with the same system against Shrewsbury.

The Teessiders will open their Championship campaign with a trip to Watford on Friday, September 11.

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