Middlesbrough v Barnsley FC - Neil Warnock happy to look his players in the eyes

After instructing his players remotely on the last two Saturday’s – from his base in the north-east where he was in self-isolation following his Covid-19 diagnosis – a fit and ready Neil Warnock is back in the building.

Widely recognised across football as someone whose comes into his own on ‘match-day’ as he employs his full range of man-management skills gained during four decades at the coal face with his players, the return of Warnock is timely.

Despite some decent displays, Middlesbrough are without a league win in 2020-21 and for Warnock, it is high time that changed – more especially at home where his side have not taken three points this year.

Glad to not be managing from a distance for the third successive weekend, Warnock, who celebrates his milestone 1,500th game as a league manager today and is seeking to crown it in fitting fashion, said: “It is not the same and difficult.

“With the way I manage, I like looking players in the eyes and looking around the dressing room and get a feeling who is on their game and who is not before they kick a ball.

“When they are doing their warm-ups, you get told someone might be a little bit below par and then I would speak a few minutes with them.”

Pleased with general performance levels he may be, but Warnock has recognised that his Boro side need to start getting more ‘ruthless’ in the final third, an Achilles heel for the past few seasons at the club.

The arrival of Chuba Akpom, who scored on his debut last weekend, should do something about that and a potential second loan spell at the club for Patrick Roberts, targeted by Warnock, will also assist in the creative department.

He added: “We have played reasonably well so far this season without getting maximum points.

“We need to be a little bit more ruthless and we are trying to bring players in and I am sure we will be able to bring one or two in before the end of the window.”

On his milestone match in charge, Warnock continued: “You just don’t know what is around the corner, do you?

“It is a great achievement. I have always loved the Championship and have the longest number of games now.

“To get to 1,500, it will not happen very often now as just simply managers are not given that opportunity now. Owners are a lot more demanding now.”

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson