Boro hoping that Agnew can be their Shakespeare

Middlesbrough are looking for a ‘Leicester City bounce’ after sacking manager Aitor Karanka and putting assistant Steve Agnew in charge – although they have also already considered making an offer to Guus Hiddink.

Leicester dismissed Claudio Ranieri last month with assistant Craig Shakespeare stepping up and winning his first two Premier League matches in charge to pull them out of the relegation places and secure the job for himself until the end of the season.

Boro are now hoping for a similar reaction under Agnew, who will take charge of Sunday’s league encounter at home to Manchester United after which the club have the international break to assess what to do before they play again, away to Swansea City on April 2. If there is an improved performance, even in defeat, Agnew, 51, may be given more time to stake his claim.

Agnew is highly rated by Boro owner Steve Gibson, who has been contacted by a number of agents and managers now there is a vacancy. Hiddink, 70, remains firmly in the frame, however. Leicester also spoke to the Dutchman after they sacked Ranieri. Former Boro player – and assistant manager – Nigel Pearson would also be interested.

Karanka’s future was in doubt for some time and Gibson recently canvassed opinion around the club as to whether the Spaniard could keep Boro in the top flight.

Karanka has had a strained relationship with some of the players, most notably Stewart Downing, and that has recently extended to the boardroom with the 43-yearold venting his frustration at what he believed were failings in the transfer market. Although his departure, after three years and four months in charge, is amicable that tension was clear. Boro missed out on Jese, Robert Snodgrass and Bojan in the January window, instead signing Adlene Guedioura and spending £12million on Patrick Bamford and Rudy Gestede.

Having started the season well, Boro are now winless in their last 10 league games and are three points from safety.