Neil Warnock reveals Middlesbrough contract stance after Ashley Fletcher is offered new deal

Fletcher has recently returned from a long-term hamstring issue and scored two goals in as many matches in wins over Huddersfield and Reading.

Despite his injury setback, Warnock thinks the striker can finish Boro’s top scorer for the second season running.

“You don’t need to have many goals to be top scorer at Middlesbrough,” joked Warnock after the Reading win.

“The only thing I would say is I know what Ashley Fletcher can do and at the moment he’s as good as anybody in the league for us.

“Him and Grant (Hall) have been injured for four or five months and it’s almost like coming back for a pre-season, you want to start playing.

“His contribution today, the two centre-halves never had an easy time.”

As well as Britt Assombalonga and Marvin Johnson, Fletcher will see his contract at the Riverside expire this summer.

The forward signed for Boro from West Ham for a fee of £6.5million in 2017, following the Teessiders’ relegation from the Premier League.

A new deal has been offered to Fletcher, yet his future remains unclear.

“We’ve offered him as good as he’s going to get wherever he goes, personally,” added Warnock.

“I don’t think Fletch wants to leave but you get influenced by people don’t you, by agents and all sorts of things.

“I don’t worry about that, if he goes I’ll replace him with someone better.”

When asked to clarify if a contract offer has been made, Warnock replied: “It has been on the table, whether it’s on the table still I don’t know.

“I don’t think he wants to accept it at the moment but that’s up to him.

“He’s a good lad and has worked so hard for four months. If he can finish top of the scoring charts, I’d be more than delighted.”

Fletcher will hope to continue his good run of form as Boro prepare for back-to-back home games against Bristol City and Cardiff this week.

The Teessiders are just three points off a play-off places following the win at Reading.”

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