For a bit of fun in the meantime, we fired up the latest edition of Football Manager, and simulated the game into the future. We had a look at the starting XI, key subs and manager it predicts will be on show for Boro on the opening day of the 2020/21 season.

. Boro
(Photo credit: VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: VALERY HACHE

. New season, same division
Football Manager predicts that Middlesbrough will successfully stave off the threat of relegation. They open the 2020/21 season at home to Blackburn Rovers. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: George Wood

. GK: Aynsley Pears
The homegrown talent keeps his starting spot for the 2020/21 season, after Middlesbrough resisted bringing in a new stopper over the summer. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: George Wood

. RB: Moritz Bauer
Boro freshened up their defence by signing the Austrian ace from Stoke City. He's coming off the back of a frustrating loan spell with Celtic. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: Catherine Ivill

. CB: Dael Fry
Boro managed to fight off interest from a number of top tier sides, and keep the highly-rated defender at the club. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: Alex Davidson

. CB: Paddy McNair
The Northern Ireland international, now worth a hefty £20m, is moved back into the centre-back spot to partner Fry in a classic back four. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: Mike Hewitt

. LB: Ben Osborn
After finding it hard to break into Chris Wilder's starting XI at Sheffield United, the ex-Nottingham Forest star jumped at the chance to play football again in the second tier. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: Dan Istitene

. CM: Lewis Wing
Wing keeps his spot in the heart of midfield, and will be eager to build upon an impressive 2019/20 campaign. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: Harriet Lander

1. New season, same division
Football Manager predicts that Middlesbrough will successfully stave off the threat of relegation. They open the 2020/21 season at home to Blackburn Rovers. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: George Wood

2. GK: Aynsley Pears
The homegrown talent keeps his starting spot for the 2020/21 season, after Middlesbrough resisted bringing in a new stopper over the summer. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: George Wood

3. RB: Moritz Bauer
Boro freshened up their defence by signing the Austrian ace from Stoke City. He's coming off the back of a frustrating loan spell with Celtic. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: Catherine Ivill

4. CB: Dael Fry
Boro managed to fight off interest from a number of top tier sides, and keep the highly-rated defender at the club. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: Alex Davidson