Neil Warnock reveals thoughts on Middlesbrough’s squad and what he's enjoying ahead of Stoke City clash

Neil Warnock took his first training session at Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Warnock was appointed at the Riverside on Tuesday and has welcomed the last few days to work with his squad at Rockliffe.

“They seem a genuine bunch,” said Warnock when asked about his first impressions in training. “They’ve all worked really hard, they’ve listened to what I’ve asked of them.

“Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson (Warnock’s trusted assistants) have been with me so we’ve put sessions on that we have done in the past in this situation, which is we know we are scrapping for our lives.

“They’ve taken it on board and I think they’ve enjoyed it. That’s one thing I do ask players to try and enjoy the training.

“It’s something I’ve missed over the last few months, I’ve missed that banter with the players around the dressing room and on the training ground.

Boro are only outside the Championship relegation zone on goal difference ahead of their trip to the bet365 Stadium, while Stoke are just two points better off.

Warnock knows the importance of the fixture but has emphasised there will still be more points to play for with eight games to go.

All competitive games in England are still being played behind closed doors and Warnock says he’ll miss the atmosphere which supporters can bring.

“I’ve been in the game so long, one of the things I enjoy is the atmosphere,” Warnock added.

“Fans home and away usually let me know what they think about me. It’s a great sport English football.

“The plus thing is I think the players will be able to hear me shouting from the touchline, there won’t be any crowd to put them off.

“We probably haven’t got that many leaders in the dressing room and that’s not being detrimental to them, it’s just their nature and the way the players are.

“I’ve already seen one or two really good things in there and we are trying to work on a pattern to give ourselves an advantage.”