Fresh faces must fit in well

TONY Pulis continues to place a great deal of emphasis on Boro signing a winger “with real pace” next month.

But, at the same time, Pulis stresses that Boro “will have to be lucky” if they are to secure their major targets.

January is the most difficult time of all for negotiating deals, though Boro have already opened discussions with at least a couple of clubs.

Pulis quite rightly points out that Boro have missed Adama Traore’s searing pace this season, though wingers with his pace are not plentiful at any time of the year.

There have been suggestions on social media that Boro might be bringing Traore back on loan from Wolves next month. This appears to be pie in the sky.

Traore has started just three games for Wolves since his £18m move but in fact has been a much-used substitute and has failed to make an appearance in only two games.

The problem for Boro, assuming they make January signings, is in ensuring that the new players become very much a part of the game plan.

In recent weeks Boro tend to have concentrated on staying strong and solid and have not done too much attacking in any game.

They had just 34 per cent possession at home to Blackburn though this was partly due to the fact that they went down to ten men when Mo Besic was dismissed.

Besic is arguably the squad’s best orthodox midfielder when it comes to creating attacks. So he is being sorely missed during his suspension period.

When the Bosnian returns he will be one of the key figures, along with Stewart Downing and the hoped-off new winger, in ensuring that the Boro forwards see plenty of the ball.

Boro have become very much pigeon-holed as a defensive side. It’s a potential problem because they won’t win promotion unless they can increase their goal output, specifically at the Riverside.

They can’t simply sit back and wait for the January signings to arrive.

So the consecutive home against Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich before the end of the year carry huge significance.