TONY PULIS will refuse to bring in new wingers before this week’s deadline for loans if he feels they are not good enough to start in Middlesbrough’s drive for promotion.

The Boro boss has made no secret of his wish to bring in wide players before the Friday deadline, and ideally he would like to have extra options available ahead of the battle between the top two at Leeds United that night.

Yannick Bolasie was his preferred choice but the Everton winger completed his season long loan switch to Aston Villa over the weekend. The 29-year-old has explained his reasons for opting against teaming up with his former Crystal Palace manager on Teesside too.

Bolasie said: “I looked around both Villa Park and the training ground, and me and my family just said, ‘wow’. It’s Premier League everywhere you look.

“I’m here to make myself smile again and use all my ability to try and help the team. It’s great to be here.

“It’s definitely a Premier League club. And I’m not saying the other clubs aren’t but this felt like a Premier League club.

“Also more of my family get to come and watch as well. Probably when the time comes and when the time’s right for me to actually start playing and I’m just feeling a bit closer to home.”

That has left Pulis considering the alternatives. Huddersfield’s Rajiv van La Parra has been considered recently, although he appeared for the Terriers in the goalless draw with Cardiff on Saturday.

Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo is one of the likelier arrivals, particularly as Villa have now pulled out of the race to sign the youngster having landed Bolasie. Pulis hopes to have “two or three” in before the deadline.

Landing a winger would then pave the way for Marvin Johnson to join Sheffield United. Regardless of what happens on the transfer front, there is a belief within the squad despite losing Ben Gibson and Adama Traore.

Middlesbrough defender Daniel Ayala said: “It’s never nice to lose good players but when players do well they will maybe leave for the Premier League, that’s football and you can’t do anything about that.

“We know we have still got good players here and we are tough, so when the manager tells us that it shows he really believes in us. We show that on the pitch too.”

Ayala is one player who has really benefited from having Pulis in charge making the decisions. Last season the Spaniard was singled out by the former West Brom boss as someone who should be playing at the top level.

That is why the former Liverpool youngster has found himself thrust straight back into the team after recovering from the calf injury which prevented him from taking part in the majority of pre-season.

Pulis was rewarded by seeing Ayala strike the late winner against the Baggies on Friday night, which ensured Middlesbrough remain level on points with Leeds at the top of the Championship – three clear of Bolton.

Ayala said: “To get the injury like I did during pre-season was hard to take, after all when I was told it should only be two weeks it ended up being more like six weeks. That happened and it was frustrating but I had to keep going and work towards my fitness.

“The manager has kept his faith in me so I had to try to get fit again to help. He told me once I was fit I would be playing and I am in.

“Since the day he came to this club he has shown great faith in me. I remember on the first day he said ‘I don’t know why you are not playing’, so he clearly believes in me. When a manager thinks that about you then you feel invincible.”

Defeating West Brom should have given Middlesbrough greater confidence ahead of the trip to Leeds. The Baggies have not lose many players since relegation from the Premier League and had smashed seven past QPR in the previous game.

Ayala said: “We knew it would be a difficult game, they are a quality side in this division so it was great to get the result. They had quality players, play through the pitch, so it was nice to keep a clean sheet to win the game.”