Why Duncan Watmore has been playing out wide for Middlesbrough as Neil Warnock explains Nottingham Forest selection call

The Boro forward started on the left in a 4-3-3 formation and was asked to support striker Britt Assombalonga, while also tracking back to stop Forest full-back Cyrus Christie.

“I tell you who I thought did well tonight, I thought Duncan did well in a role that I asked him to do,” said Warnock after the game.

“I asked him to join in with Britt which he did and make runs across, and yet still come back with the full-back. I thought he was a threat.

“He worked his socks off and covered some ground tonight.”

Goals from Assombalonga and George Saville gave Boro a two-goal lead at the City Ground and Warnock was quick to praise an accomplished team display.

When asked if he plans to use Watmore as a wide player for the rest of the season, Warnock replied: “He’s not a wide player but if he can go inside, their full-back ended up in the middle of the pitch with him and he just makes other people think.

“We’ve got the energy with Saville and Sam (Morsy) to come across to the full-back if he’s spare and everybody is working hard.

“Britt is working hard up there, Jonny Howson is working hard. If Jonny has to come out then Paddy (McNair) or Dael (Fry) is space so one of them has to pick him up.

“It’s a good team ethic at the minute.”

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