Should Neil Warnock sign ex-Sunderland forward, will Sam Morsy keep his place at Blackburn and what next for Nathan Wood?: Middlesbrough vs Nottingham Forest Q&A

The result moved Neil Warnock’s side up to fifth in the table but, while the Boro boss will be hopeful his side can mount a promotion challenge, he has tried to keep a lid on expectations.

We examine some of the key talking points and questions following the win over Forest, with the Teessiders now preparing for Tuesday’s trip to Blackburn.

Should Boro sign Duncan Watmore?

Warnock was asked about Watmore again during Monday’s press conference.

The former Sunderland forward has been training with Boro for two weeks and has impressed at Rockliffe in that time.

A short-term contract appears to make sence, and Warnock is hopeful a deal can be agreed until January.

Watmore was a popular figure at Sunderland but was desperately unlucky with injuries during his seven years at the Stadium of Light.

It’s no secret Boro’s squad remains thin, especially in attack following Ashley Fletcher’s hamstring injury.

When fit, Watmore is pacey, versatile and could be a useful option for Boro during a congested fixture schedule.

Will Sam Morsy keep his place?

The former Wigan captain has looked like an excellent signing so far this season but was substituted in the first half against Forest after receiving an early yellow card.

Warnock felt Morsy could have been sent off if he’d been left on the pitch, so the Boro boss decided not to run the risk.

Ultimately, it was a sensible decision as Boro went on to win the game and didn’t lose any momentum after the substitution.

Morsy will still be expected to keep his place against Blackburn after playing alongside George Saville and Jonny Howson in recent weeks.

Not only does Morsy break up play, but he can also create goal-scoring opportunities, as shown by his pass for Britt Assombalonga’s goal against Coventry last week.

Are Boro serious play-off contenders?

Warnock said in pre-season he hasn’t come here to finish mid-table, yet the Boro boss isn’t getting too carried away.

At this moment in time, Boro are clearly a real force. They have played two teams who were playing in the Premier League last season, as well as league leaders Reading but have lost just one out of nine league games so far.

Warnock’s side have rarely looked like conceding in recent weeks and have found a good mix between youth and experience.

The only concern is the Teessiders’ thin squad, which could quickly become stretched if they pick up a few injuries in one position.

Warnock is right, it is too early to be drawing too many conclusions – yet the early signs have been very promising.

Will Nathan Wood have a big part to play this season?

The teenage centre-back certainly showed he can be relied upon after a very impressive performance against Forest.

Wood was good in the air and made some important tackles at the back, while he also looked comfortable on the ball.

Dael Fry and Grant Hall will be expected to move ahead of Wood in the pecking order when fit but, if the latter continues to play like he did on Saturday, the 18-year-old will be hard to dislodge.

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