NEIL WARNOCK has revealed that two players are currently undergoing medicals ahead of potential moves to Middlesbrough, but the Boro boss does not expect to have any new faces in his squad for Saturday’s game at Derby County.

Boro’s unbeaten start to the league season came to an end last night as they crashed to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of ten-man QPR.

Uche Ikpeazu and Matt Crooks both scored for the second game in a row, and QPR were reduced to ten men in the early stages of the second half when Moses Odubajo was dismissed for two fouls on Isaiah Jones. However, second-half goals from Lyndon Dykes and Chris Willock followed an own goal from Jonny Howson to ensure QPR took all three points back to Loftus Road.

Warnock admits his squad is currently being stretched to its limits, but is hopeful reinforcements are on their way. Slovenian striker Andraz Sporar is known to have had a medical in Portugal ahead of a proposed season-long loan move from Sporting, while Boro are also understood to be close to completing the signing of a left-back, with Swansea’s Jake Bidwell one of a number of players under consideration.

The Teessiders have also held talks with Dutch side Heerenveen over a possible move for 21-year-old winger Mitchell van Bergen, who is expected to command a fee of more than £1m.

“Nothing’s really moved that I’m aware of,” said Warnock. “I’ve not really had any good news on the phone, but I’m still hoping we’ll have someone in before the end of the week. I wouldn’t have thought they’d be involved at the weekend, so we’ve just got to get over the disappointment of the defeat and get on with it.

“I wouldn’t have thought there’ll be a couple done before the end of the week, although there are a couple of lads that are having medicals. I can’t see us getting them through in time for the weekend though, there’s too many little bits and bobs still to do. “

Warnock was disappointed with his side’s defending last night as they shipped three goals in the space of 20 second-half minutes.

Willock, whose elder brother Joe was watching on from the stands, ripped the Boro defence to shreds as he set up Dykes’ goal before firing home QPR’s winner.

“I think we’re going to have plenty of excitement this year,” he said. “I can’t fault the excitement, but I’m disappointed with the goals, disappointed we didn’t score and disappointed with decisions. I thought we were a bit soft tonight at the back. I thought one or two lads could have put a foot in earlier. But we didn’t. We were passive."