Three players who could benefit from Middlesbrough's lack of transfer business as Neil Warnock's side step up pre-season preparations

The Teessiders’ lack of signings this summer means there may be opportunities for some of the club’s youngsters or fringe players to stake a claim for more first team football.

With less than two weeks to go until the start of the new season, we’ve picked out three players, all of whom were sent out on loan last term, who could alter Warnock’s thoughts in the next few days.

Sam Stubbs

Following the departures of George Friend, Daniel Ayala, Ryan Shotton and Harold Moukoudi, Boro look desperately short at the back.

New signing Grant Hall and Dael Fry are Boro’s only centre-back options with significant Championship experience, with Stubbs seemingly next in the pecking order.

The 21-year-old played regularly during loan spells at SPL side Hamilton and with top-flight Dutch club ADO Den Haag last season and will now feel he’s ready for the Championship.

Marcus Browne

We saw flashes of what the winger is capable of last season, yet the 22-year-old often let his emotions get the better of him.

Browne was one of the best players in League One last season after he returned to former club Oxford on loan in January.

The winger scored four goals and provided four assists for the U’s in the third tier and added another goal in the play-offs against Portsmouth.

Boro’s squad is still short of natural wide men, which will be needed if Warnock wants to play with his preferred 4-3-3 system, so there is definitely a chance for Browne to prove himself.

Marc Bola

Another player who struggled to adjust to the Championship after signing for Boro last summer.

The 22-year-old also re-joined his former club in January when Blackpool brought the defender back to Bloomfield Road on loan.

Boro do have other options at left-back in the shape of Hayden Coulson and Marvin Johnson, yet the pair are both used to playing further forward.

With more experience under his belt it remains unclear if Bola is ready to fill in on the left side of defence.

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