NEIL WARNOCK is hoping to complete the loan signing of Yannick Bolasie in the next 24 hours after the Everton winger turned down a proposed move to Turkey in order to make a temporary switch to Teesside.

Having seen a possible move to Middlesbrough collapse on transfer-deadline day in October, Bolasie has agreed to link back up with Warnock for the remainder of the campaign, having previously worked with the Boro boss during the pair’s time at Crystal Palace.

Warnock watched his Boro side crash to their joint-heaviest defeat of the season last night as goals from Matt Crooks, Michael Smith and Ryan Giles condemned them to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Rotherham United.

He admits injuries have caught up with his shallow squad, and is delighted to have been able to land Bolasie at the second time of asking.

“I hope it’ll get done,” said the Boro boss. “I spoke to him, and he was going to go to Turkey. But he spoke to me and I said, ‘Look, just come and enjoy yourself for a couple of months – you can always go to Turkey and places like that later’.

“He owes me anyhow, because I did well for him at Crystal Palace. He’s looking forward to it, I think, and hopefully everything will be done in the next 24 hours.

“I was really flat earlier in the week because we were knocked back on two lads in the space of 24 hours. That’s why I was glad when Yannick spoke to me, and I’m glad he listened to me because I do think he’ll enjoy it here. It’ll give a lift to the lads because we haven’t really had anybody like that.”

Warnock primarily sees Bolasie filling one of the wide-attacking positions, but the Boro boss also feels the 31-year-old could perform effectively as a central striker if required.

“I think he can do an (Michael) Antonio,” he said. “I’ve always thought, since Crystal Palace, he could do the type of things that Antonio has done at West Ham. He’s quite capable of going up front.

“He doesn’t know what he’s doing some of the time, he hasn’t got a clue, and Antonio is the same. They’re quite effective because centre-halves don’t know either.”

Bolasie’s arrival should be completed in time for him to be involved in the squad for Saturday’s trip to league leaders Norwich City, and Warnock claims there is a chance he could complete an additional signing before the weekend.

“I’m hoping we might also be able to bring another one in before the weekend,” he said.

“But I definitely think we’ll get another couple in before the window closes. We’ve known all along that if we lost two or three players we’d struggle, but all credit to the lads, they’ve done really well all season.”

Anfernee Dijskteel played no part in last night’s defeat, and the influential full-back is facing around a fortnight on the sidelines after he underwent an operation to remove an abscess at the start of this week.