Neil Warnock reveals how Sunderland legend Gordon Armstrong helped Duncan Watmore earn Middlesbrough deal

Watmore, 26, was a free agent and had offers to move abroad following a seven-year spell at Sunderland.

The forward started training with Boro in October and was eventually offered a contract after impressing the coaching staff at Rockliffe.

Watmore scored his sixth goal for the Teessiders during their 2-1 win over Huddersfield and has been an instant hit at the Riverside

“You’ve only got to look online at the reaction of the Sunderland fans and our fans when we were first talking about it – I don’t think there were too many people that thought it was a good idea,” admitted Warnock when discussing Watmore’s impressive form.

“It was Gordon Armstrong, an ex-player I once managed that Ronnie Jepson knows, that rang me one day and asked me if I would have a look at Duncan.

“He was going to go to India, but I was asked if I would have a look for a few days. At that time, with the financial side of things, we hadn’t really got much money to spend, so I said, ‘Yeah’. I trusted Gordon, so I said, ‘Yeah, get him down and I’ll have a chat with him’.

“I asked him to come down, and he did, even though we couldn’t pay him for three or four weeks because of something to do with the regulations. He stuck at it, and I told him I would get him a contract at some stage after about a week or so.

“I loved his attitude, and when you’ve had injuries like he’s had, wow, his training was fabulous. He couldn’t put enough into the training, and even the other night, that’s the most he’s ever run in a game for us.

“There were three or four lads the other night that had their best stats. Sam Morsy, Jonny Howson – I don’t know how Jonny Howson does it.

"We had ten men, and he was going from one player to another, then they passed it back to the goalie and he goes tearing in there too. That kind of attitude rubs off on people.”

Watmore performed well in a central striker’s role against Huddersfield – when he was deployed alongside Ashley Fletcher.

The forward has also been asked to play out wide in a 4-3-3 system, despite restrictions in that position.

“It’s hard for him sometimes because I like to play a 4-3-3, and it’s not really Duncan’s strength that,” added Warnock.

"Duncan’s strength is playing as part of a two up there, where he can go both sides of the striker and make runs on both sides.

"Sometimes, he’s had to bide his time and wait for the right system to give him a chance. But when I put him in the 4-3-3 system, he works his socks off.

"He’s not always effective, so he can get a bit of criticism, but it’s not his fault really, it’s my fault that. I think the two up front suits him, as I think it would suit most strikers. It’s hard work on your own up front in this league.”

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Middlesbrough coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor