NEIL WARNOCK does not expect Middlesbrough’s defensive injury crisis to ease ahead of Wednesday’s home game with Barnsley.

Boro were without five senior defenders as they beat Peterborough 2-0 at the weekend, forcing Warnock into a major reshuffle that saw Jonny Howson and Paddy McNair play as centre-halves with Marcus Tavernier and Onel Hernandez pressed into service as emergency wing-backs.

Lee Peltier will be available for Wednesday’s game with the Tykes, having served a one-match suspension on Saturday, but Dael Fry, Grant Hall, Anfernee Dijksteel and Marc Bola are all expected to remain on the sidelines in two days’ time.

“I wouldn’t have thought we’ll have any of the injured lads back,” confirmed Warnock. “Peltier will be back from suspension, but I’ve pulled Paddy and Jonny and said, ‘You’re going to be my Beckenbauers lads’. I presume they know who Beckenbauer is at their age!”

Boro climbed back into the top half of the table at the weekend as late goals from Paddy McNair and Josh Coburn secured a fourth league win of the season.

McNair broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 85th minute, before substitute Coburn slotted home his second senior goal in stoppage time.

The Teessiders had to dig deep to claim all three points, but given the patched-up nature of his starting side, Warnock was delighted with his players’ resolve and commitment.

“I couldn’t have faulted them, every one of them,” he said. “They’ve been the same in training. They all know they’re playing out of position, a lot of them, but we’ve nothing else. I just asked them to try to enjoy the challenge and the battle, and if they made mistakes, not to dwell on them.

“I thought there were some really good performances."