NEIL Warnock admits the club were close to securing a deal for a left-sided free agent and the club have now expanded their search. 

While Boro endured a fruitful transfer window with twelve signings in total, the club missed out on a left-back to act as cover for Marc Bola and are now looking at players who are currently without a club. 

Now that the transfer window has closed until January, Warnock admits the search is ongoing and that a deal was almost struck to bring in a player before tomorrow's trip to the Ricoh Arena. 

Warnock told the media: “We were close last week to securing a left-sided lad. I have to get another left-sided lad in if I can defensive-wise.

“We missed out on that and financially it was a bit too much for us so we just have to keep looking.

“There are players out there and it’s not a desperate situation because Lee Peltier has done very well on the left side for me.

“I’m quite happy with that but a natural left footer always helps.

“I wouldn’t want to play Pelts in a five because he struggles to get to the halfway line and back at his age but as a back four he’s okay.”

“We are just looking for a left-sided player, ideally someone who could play left-back or left centre-half.

“Now we are having to look abroad but we won’t bring anybody in for the sake of it, we missed out on a player last week and we have made a few offers for players and they have gone elsewhere.

“It’s difficult because when Marc is fit you are asking someone to come as back-up.

“With having doubts about Marc’s fitness it made us want to look a little bit more for that type of player.”

Warnock may be short of left-backs in his squad and the club are appearing to take their time in their search.

However, the Boro boss admitted that he would be prepared to use players out of their ordinary positions to cover at wing-back if needs be. 

Warnock added: “We have options for wing-backs too. Isaiah did it against Blackburn and Tav has done it before. I just like Tav’s energy anywhere me.

"He’d play full-back for me if I asked him to. Sometimes he just needs to be let off his leash though, doesn’t he?"