What Neil Warnock made of Middlesbrough's under-23s match against Leeds United after first-team players feature

Boro were beaten 4-2 by Leeds at Rockliffe despite naming an experienced side for the Premier League 2, Division 2, fixture.

Ashley Fletcher and Grant Hall both played 90 minutes after recovering from long-term injury setbacks, while Hayden Coulson, Djed Spence and goalkeeper Jordan Archer also featured.

Warnock was at the game and could be heard shouting at the referee on the highlights footage.

“I thought it was a good workout really, they needed that,” said Warnock when asked about the match.

“I was desperate to get the game on because I wanted them to do 90 minutes at whatever level so it served its purpose.

“It also made me realise that I shouldn’t go and watch the 23s because I ended up taking over at half-time. Keep away from it.”

When asked if Hall and Fletcher are now ready to start a match for the senior side, Warnock replied: “They are available now but they’ve been out for such a long time both of them.

"Whatever decision you make you are crossing your fingers all the time, I’m doing that with a few players at the moment because we will have more injuries without a shadow of a doubt.”

Boro will face Derby County at Pride Park this weekend but centre-back Dael Fry is still a doubt for the match with a calf issue which he picked up at Norwich last month.

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