When is it time for Middlesbrough fans to start worrying about their lack of signings in the transfer window?

Understandably there is a growing concern on Teesside following several first-team departures which has left the squad worryingly thin.

Daniel Ayala, Ryan Shotton, Adam Clayton and Rudy Gestede have all left the club over the last two months, while George Friend has signed for Birmingham.

Last season, Boro also had Patrick Roberts, Harold Moukoudi, Ravel Morrison and Lukas Nmecha on loan, and while not all of them were regular starters, they at least helped bulk up the squad.

In terms of incomings, only central defender Grant Hall has arrived on a free transfer from QPR while Marvin Johnson has signed a new contract.

It’s far from ideal – but just how worried should Boro fans be?

Encouragingly, after a slow start to the window, business does appear to be picking up slowly.

Unfortunately for Boro some of their targets have moved elsewhere, yet clubs have been getting a better idea of what their rivals are willing to pay in a changing marketplace.

Back in July Warnock said he wanted to make five or six new signings, while Friend’s departure has left another vacant position.

The Boro boss will obviously hope he can make a couple more additions before Boro’s Carabao Cup tie against Shrewsbury in two weeks time – especially as the match is likely to coincide with an international break.

That will probably rule out midfield duo Paddy McNair and George Saville who are likely to be called up for Northern Ireland’s Nations League fixtures.

The Teessiders do at least have options in the engine room in the form of Jonny Howson, Lewis Wing and Marcus Tavernier, while the likes of Ben Liddle and Connor Malley may receive opportunities in the cup.

Despite the lack of signings, Boro could still name a competitive starting XI in Warnock’s favoured 4-3-3 system: Dejan Stojanovic, Djed Spence, Dael Fry, Hall, Johnson, Saville, Howson, McNair, Tavernier, Ashley Fletcher and Britt Assombalonga.

They could also call upon Hayden Coulson, Anfernee Dijksteel, Wing and Marcus Browne, who has returned from a loan spell at Oxford, yet clearly the squad isn’t strong enough for a long and gruelling Championship campaign.

The aforementioned side may be able to hold their own for a couple of games, but doesn’t realistically look like a complete, well-balanced team which could compete for a play-off spot – which is where Warnock wants to be.

With former clubs Cardiff and QPR, the Boro boss has overachieved to win promotion but, as he’s pointed out, he’s no magician.

Warnock could also tweak his system to play with wing-backs, with Dijksteel as a right-sided centre-back and Spence and Coulson on the flanks, yet a flux of injuries would leave Boro in serious trouble.

There is still time of coure, yet you could argue the Teessiders still need two new centre-backs, a left-back, a couple of wingers and another striker.

Some of those areas could be patched up by tactical tweaks and players’ versatility, yet it’s clear there’s still plenty of work to do.

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