Jonathan Woodgate admits Middlesbrough's squad lacks depth

Despite targeting an attacking addition before the transfer window closed on Thursday evening, with Bournemouth’s Jordon Ibe and Burnley’s Nahki Wells among their leading targets, Boro’s recruitment team were unable to make a breakthrough.

As a result, Anfernee Dijksteel, Marc Bola and Marcus Browne were the only outfield signings this summer, despite Martin Braithwaite following the likes of John Obi Mikel, Mo Besic, Stewart Downing and Jordan Hugill through the exit door.

While Middlesbrough’s starting line-up is reasonably strong, Woodgate will have to turn to some untried youngsters if injuries begin to mount, but while the Teessider concedes he would have preferred to have had at least another option, he is not too concerned at the way last week unfolded.

“It is what it is,” said Woodgate, whose home managerial debut ended in a disappointing fashion as Boro slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Brentford at the weekend. “I’ll go with it. I’ve got belief in all of my players in that dressing room. I would like to have added in, but listen, it’s no problem.

“I said in my previous press conferences we are a bit thin, if we get a spate of injuries we could be in a bit of trouble. But I’ve got belief in all my players, we’ll go with what we’ve got.

“We just couldn’t do a deal in the end. Sometimes, things get in the way, it happens like that. I could have got players in to fill a gap, but that’s not me.

“I need to bring the right players in and have a belief. I don’t go away from what I said originally, if the right man wasn’t available, I wouldn’t do it.”

Woodgate was able to hold to Ryan Shotton despite strong interest from Wigan Athletic, and insists the versatile defender remains a key part of the squad.

“Everyone battles for the places,” he said. “If someone is playing well, they’ll play. If they’re not, they won’t play.”