Strachan advises Boyd to ease back

The former Rangers striker has scored just once since signing for the Teesside club in the summer.

The 27-year-old has faced accusations throughout his career that he does not work hard enough, but Strachan – whose side travel to Derby tonight in the Championship – has no such concerns about his approach to training.

“I can’t ask for any more from his training,” Strachan said. “He’s a fantastic trainer, he is great with his team-mates and he wants to do well. As a matter of fact, I told him last week not to do any more than he has been doing.

“He was actually trying too hard and I said, ’Listen, you don’t need to do that’, because sometimes when players try too hard, they can get frustrated.”