TONY PULIS’ hopes of boosting Middlesbrough’s options out wide next month have taken a twist after Manchester United’s interest in Marcus Tavernier became known.

Pulis, the Boro boss, is weighing up a variety of options to come in when the window opens and he has even considered the possibility of taking former player Adama Traore back to the club.

Traore, who started for Wolves at Newcastle on Sunday, has struggled to adapt to life at Molineux and he has been in and out of the team. He has been unable to hit the heights he managed under Pulis.

Wolves only agreed to pay £18m for him in the summer so a deal will be tricky to conclude, although Pulis does have other winger targets in mind. Aston Villa’s Albert Adomah remains a cheaper, and older, alternative.

Middlesbrough have struggled for players to play out wide, with Stewart Downing and Tavernier the squad’s only recognised wingers.

Now Manchester United are known to have been keeping an eye on Tavernier’s performances and are weighing up whether to make a move.

The 19-year-old has had the scouts from Old Trafford watching him following his rise in the last 12 months. The England Under-20 international has been back in the mix under Pulis of late.

United are not thought to view him as a player to compete for a first team shirt immediately and think he could be ideal to keep an eye on while playing for their Under-23s.

Tavernier was an unused substitute during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn when a red card for Mo Besic meant options were more limited for Pulis.

But he had played in the previous couple of games and he is likely to be in the match-day squad for the trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Middlesbrough will head to Loftus Road hoping for an improved defensive display after letting their standards drop of late. After keeping 11 clean sheets this season, goalkeeper Darren Randolph has not shut the opposition out in four.

He said: “I wouldn’t want to play behind any other defence in the division. They have played superbly all season. The last couple of results don’t really change that. It doesn’t all of a sudden mean we are a bad team who can’t defend.

“There will always be games where you concede but it is how you react that counts.”

Middlesbrough have slipped down to sixth after their recent run of poorer form, six points off second placed Leeds United. Randolph knows how important the next six games up to January 1 will be though.

He said: “There are a lot of games coming up quickly now. It’s going to be a big month - but we seem to say that every month. But it is a pivotal spell. Obviously there is the Burton game and what potentially comes after that if we manage to get through.

“Then there are a lot of games in the league in a short spell and we will be looking to go on a good run and get some good results and maximise the points we can get from it.

“It is a busy, busy period for everybody and sometimes teams don’t get as much rest as some others between games and get caught on the bounce so you can get strange results. You have to be at your best.”

But Randolph still thinks Middlesbrough should be satisfied. He said: “We haven’t had the best results. what with the defeat to Villa, but overall it has been a great first half of the season. The run at the start was obviously brilliant and it looks good on me and the defence and team and the manager and everyone else but it is a long season. These periods do come, you can’t keep a clean sheet every game.”