NEIL Warnock has been talking up the impact of Middlesbrough's summer signing Uche Ikpeazu whilst taking a swipe at the club's previous top earners. 

Ikpeazu has scored two goals in his four appearances so far for Boro after signing from Wycombe Wanderers in the summer. In terms of forwards, Ikpeazu has come in to replace the likes of Britt Assombalona and Ashley Fletcher who left the club in the summer who were some of the club's top earners last season.

He's shown plenty of determination and hard work as Boro's number nine in the squad and has impressed his manager with his Championship performances. 

Warnock said: “I’ve never met a more humble man than Uche. I think he’s probably our lowest paid. He wanted to come and he wanted to show everybody ‘I think Middlesbrough is the best club in the world and I wanted to show everybody at Middlesbrough how I good I am'.

“I think you take your hat off to the people like that. Let’s be honest over the last few years, we’ve had a few big earners that could take a lesson from Uche at times.

“We’re lucky to have these lads. That’s why with T (Toyosi Olusanya) I was really pleased to get him because I do think he can have an input whether it’s from the bench or what have you."

He has been preserving the fitness of Ikpeazu, 26, by substituting him in games. He and Josh Coburn have been the club's only central strikers with Chuba Akpom likely to leave the club before the close of the transfer window. 

Boro are next in action at the weekend when they host Tony Mowbray's Blackburn Rovers before a fortnight off due to the international break.