MIDDLESBROUGH manager Neil Warnock has outlined his plans for the international break with a long weekend off for the players that has been planned since before the Hull City defeat.

It's the second international break of the season where Boro's squad have a fortnight without game. They now have two weeks on the training ground to come up with solutions to their hot and cold season which has seen them pick up twelve points from their first eleven games.

Andraz Sporar of Solvenia, Paddy McNair of Northern Ireland and James Lea-Siliki of Cameroon are all away from the Boro squad representing their respective countries. 

Warnock said: “We’ve got three lads away. But those of us still on Teesside, we’ve planned a normal week just about next week.

“We’ll probably give them the Friday off and have a long weekend next weekend but we’ll be in working really hard next week.

“There are one or two things planned in that we haven’t done yet that we need to.

“If you win the last game before an international break you often think, ‘Crikey, I wish we could quickly go again’. Whereas, if you lose it you might be glad of the two weeks rest.

“I think it all differs. I think three in consecutive months is a bit much if I’m honest, but it is what it is. As a manager, you’ve just got to get on with it.”

While plenty of football managers out there feel the international break hinders there respective teams, Warnock says his side could do with it being extended given their mounting injury crisis which  was compounded at the weekend. 

Dael Fry and Grant Hall were the latest to be struck with problems joining the likes of Darnell Fisher and Anfernee Dijksteel while Lee Peltier is suspended for the trip to Peterborough United. 

“I think it would come at a good time if it was about four weeks long.

“But it’s only two weeks so it’s going to be a difficult period.

“It’s not looking likely any of the injured lads will be back for that Peterborough game.”