THE prospects of Middlesbrough academy product Hayden Coulson being deemed surplus to requirements by Neil Warnock are growing.

The Boro manager cast doubt on the wing-back’s long-term future on Teesside following the contentious 2-1 defeat at Swansea.

Coulson missed out on the first-team squad’s trip to Wales to play for Boro’s Under-23 side and Warnock’s post-match update bodes suggest he may have to move on.

The 22-year-old was tipped to leave Boro on loan in January and it seems likely he will finally depart this summer as Warnock gears up for a renewed assault on promotion.

“I played him in the 23s because I wanted him to have 90 minutes and probably wouldn’t have used him here,” Warnock told reporters at the Liberty Stadium.

“I didn’t want to bring him all this way over two days not to play him and I thought it was more important for him to get a game under his belt.”

Gateshead-born Coulson, played 30 times last season but has struggled to win over Warnock.

Now his Riverside days seem numbered having fallen behind Marc Bola and Marvin Johnson in the pecking order.

“At the moment, he can't force his way into my plans because Johnson is doing well when he comes on and Bola is doing well," added Warnock.

“Connor Roberts has been fantastic for Swansea and Bola more than matched him and if anything created more in their box.

“He had a cracking game so it's difficult for Hayden to come in at the moment which why I wanted him to play for the Under-23s.

“I don’t know what the squad will be next season, who will be leaving and what have you.

"But I have been pleased when Marvin has come on, he’s done well and that would be his position."