Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest - Neil Warnock wary of threat from one 'best squads' in the Championship

Boro host Chris Hughton’s side at the Riverside Stadium today, aiming to extend their unbeaten league run to nine games.

Forest haven’t lost since a 2-1 defeat against Bristol at the beginning of October but have drawn their last three matches.

Their poor start has left them sitting just one point outside the relegation zone. Warnock admits he is slightly envious of the squad depth at Forest, as he has concerns about how thin his own roster is.

The East Midlands club appointed Hughton after their last defeat, with the former Newcastle United manager unbeaten since taking charge.

“They have got one of the best squads in the whole league,” he said.

“When you look at the numbers they’ve got, I envy them.

“They’ve got two teams and we can barely name all substitutes. I don’t know how many they signed, but the front four is as good as anything in the league. We have to be on top form to cope with those and get a result.

“I didn’t think things were right (at start of season).

“I knew as soon as Chris came in it’s a good job for Chris. He’s a good manager.

“With the players they’ve got, they’ll have to be in the top seven or eight. They’ll still be looking at that.”

Warnock fancies Middlesbrough’s own chances of promotion but worries that even one or two injuries in key positions could end those hopes.

A 1-0 defeat at Watford on the opening day remains the only blot on Boro’s record so far this campaign as they head into the contest after a 2-0 win over Coventry City on Tuesday night.

“The biggest problem is we’re treading on eggshells with the size of the squad,” added Warnock.

“We have to cross our fingers every game really and I’ll be glad when the international break comes.

“If you told me we wouldn’t have many injuries between now and the end of the season I’d put a few bob on us.

“But I’ve been around too long to know that won’t happen.

“Look at Liverpool, with the squad they’ve got, they’ve lost two big centre-halves in the space of 90 minutes nearly and people are talking about how it disrupted them.

“If we have two injuries in certain departments, it’s difficult to see where we’d go.”

Warnock will be able to welcome Chuba Akpom back into his side after the forward missed the win over Coventry with an illness.

He was tested for Covid-19 but that has since been returned as negative although he will undergo further assessment.

Warnock said: “We were all relieved. With the way things were going for us, I thought it would be positive. That was really good news.

“He has a very heavy cold so I don’t want him getting too close to the lads. Even if he comes back on the bench it will good news for us.”