MIDDLESBROUGH manager Neil Warnock is eager to see what striking relationship can be struck between Andraz Sporar and Duncan Watmore. 

Both players have found the net just once this season for Boro in a season where the Teesssiders have struggled to get going in the Championship. 

Sporar has recently been on international duty with Slovenia and will arrive back on Teesside fresh from scoring a brilliant chest and volley in their 4-0 win against Malta and providing the assist for their goal in 2-1 defeat to Russia. 

As for Watmore, the forward will have continued to work at the training ground as Warnock and co look for solutions to their hot and cold start to the season. 

The former Sunderland man has been below par in the eyes of Warnock at certain points this season but the manager now hopes he's turned a corner ahead of an important few weeks in Boro's season.

“He’s a gem of a lad - not just as a player but as a person, he’s incredible. Really humble sort of person" Warnock said.

“But he hasn’t had a good start to the season and he knows that.

“He never deserved his place really and it was only in the last two weeks really that he really come back to how he was last year.

“When he’s like that in training you have to pick him, it’s as simple as that.

“He has had one or two problems as well which haven’t helped.

“But hopefully he’s turned the corner and can build on that now because you’re not going to get a more genuine lad."

While Boro look to get the best out of Sporar, Warnock has hinted at the idea of continuing to use the pair as their main attacking outlet like he did against Sheffield United and Hull City last time out. 

“I thought him and Andraz (Sporar) looked quite sharp together against Sheffield United" Warnock added. 

“I think when they both get up to speed - because neither of them are quite fully fit yet - then I think it could be quite exciting.

“The second half stats, they left a bit to be desired then and I’ll have to go through that with them.

“Maybe they try and little bit too hard when they should do the simple things and help keep possession sometimes.

“But it’s nice when people want to impress that much. When they close down like they do and so on, it lifts the crowd and I don’t want them changing in that respect.”