NEIL WARNOCK has praised the role Matt Crooks has played in aiding Martin Payero's development with Middlesbrough.

Crooks played in a deep-lying midfield role during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Peterborough, and was integral in helping his fellow midfielder, Payero, turn in by his far his most accomplished display in a Middlesbrough shirt.

Warnock was pleased with Payero’s second-half performance in particular at the weekend, and is confident there is still a lot more to come from the summer signing from Argentina.

“I think in the second half, he did a lot better,” said the Boro boss, ahead of tomorrow's home game with Barnsley. “Crooksy was talking to him constantly and I think Crooksy probably got the best out of him.

“It’s different in the Championship, it’s a very quick, rapid league. When you play in the league, your realise what it’s like, and I thought he adapted in the second half very well. I think there’s a lot more to come from him, but I was pleased with him.”

Similarly, Warnock has been impressed with Duncan Watmore’s performances in the last few weeks, with the former Sunderland forward gradually returning to the kind of form he was displaying for much of last season.

Watmore only started two of Boro’s opening nine league games, with Warnock admitting the 27-year-old was below-par for much of pre-season, but he made a goalscoring return to the side against Sheffield United and appears to be back firing on all cylinders.

“He wasn’t right in pre-season, and he struggled the first few weeks, but it’s a lot easier for defenders to be consistent than forwards because they’ve just got to stop people playing,” said Warnock. “When you’ve got to create things all the time, from a striker’s point of view, it’s a lot more difficult.

“He probably tried too hard at times, that’s how he is. But he’s steadied down now and is doing a steady job. He helped me out in another area on Saturday, and he’ll do anything I ask him really.

“It’s great to have him like that, but forwards do have dips. Isaiah Jones is another, he’s really been poor for three weeks in the training, yet he looked better at the end of last week and when he came on (against Peterborough), I thought he did well. It’s nice to see Isaiah back firing too.”