SHOT TO BITS

Kar’s misfiring hitmen Hughes set to Pott flop Bony

SHOT-SHY Middlesbrough have no easy answers to their lack of firepower ahead of today’s game at Stoke.

Only goal difference is keeping Aitor Karanka’s side out of the drop zone.

And the Boro boss is wrestling with a striker dilemma as he searches for the formula which could bring them their first league win in nine games.

Boro have scored a pitiful 19 goals in 26 games, with striker Alvaro Negredo and January signings Rudy Gestede and Patrick Bamford all struggling.

Negredo was hauled off at half-time during the 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last week and it’s becoming increasingly clear Boro’s cautious ® ® game plan is wearing him down. Gestede scored a spectacular FA Cup goal against Oxford to open his Boro account a fortnight ago but has forgotten how to win in the Premier League.

Gestede is the holder of an unwanted record, having been involved in 36 league games for Aston Villa and Boro without tasting victory.

As for Bamford, who must have thought his £6m move to the Riverside from Chelsea would end 18 months of frustration following disappointing loan stints at Norwich, Crystal Palace and Burnley, Karanka has made it clear he can’t offer a quick-fire solution.

“I said when he arrived, he needed time,” said Karanka. “But he played in four games in a row.

“After that, he came to my office and I was showing him the reason he is not playing now, why he’s not in the team and he understood it. He needs to learn and improve.”

Karanka is considering leaving out Negredo today, but said: “I know but I’m not going to say anything. He doesn’t know yet and I think it’s fair to tell him first.”

Of Gestede, he added: “Rudy will win a game soon.”