Hayden Coulson.Hayden Coulson.
Hayden Coulson.

Nine Middlesbrough players who are facing a big pre-season as Neil Warnock assesses his squad

As the Middlesbrough squad start to return for pre-season in the coming weeks, Neil Warnock will be assessing his options ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Pre-season will provide opportunities for several members of the squad to make an impression, whether they are young players coming through the ranks, those who have fallen down the pecking order or been out on loan.

Boro’s first pre-season friendly is set to take place against Bishop Aukland on Wednesday, July 14, before the squad travel to Cornwall for a week-long training camp.

Warnock has already said there are always one or two players who surprise him in pre-season and, with the squad looking thin following several first-team departures in recent months, there are bound to be opportunities.

So which individuals are set for a big pre-season this year, and who needs to impress as Boro prepare to return to action in July? We take a closer look: