TONY PULIS has urged Middlesbrough supporters to be patient with Jordan Hugill, and claimed the striker was always going to take time to hit top form after suffering a series of setbacks.

Hugill made his sixth start in a Boro shirt during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace, but produced a relatively underwhelming display as he failed to add to his solitary goal since leaving West Ham in the summer.

He is battling with Britt Assombalonga for a starting spot in this evening’s Championship game at Stoke City, and Pulis feels he is gradually hitting his stride as he recovers his match sharpness.

He barely featured for West Ham in the second half of last season, and suffered a disrupted pre-season because of injury, and his manager feels it would be unfair to judge him too harshly as he settles back into life on his native Teesside.

“The big thing with Jordan that people have to recognise is he was signed by West Ham and never really played a game from that point onwards,” said Pulis. “He missed the second half of the season, not playing any games, and got injured so he didn’t have a pre-season.

“So the kid’s had half a season not playing because he wasn’t selected, and then missed the full pre-season because he’s injured so he’s never been as fit as he was at Preston when he was scoring goals. People have to be a little bit careful and understand the situation Jordan’s in.”

Pulis will not have the suspended Daniel Ayala or the injured Ryan Shotton tonight, and could be without Sam McQueen for the remainder of the season after scans revealed the Southampton loanee damaged his cruciate ligaments on Wednesday.

“I’m afraid the news with Sam is not very good,” said the Boro boss. “He’s done his cruciate ligaments in his knee. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’re going to have him available for a long time.”