MIDDLESBROUGH have put their search for free agents on hold after their failed move for Robbie Brady.

Boro have been in the market for a left sided defensive player amid their injury crisis with the likes of Marc Bola, Dael Fry, Grant Hall and Anfernee Dijksteel all out of action.

Robbie Brady held talks with club officials at Rockliffe over a move to Boro but decided to make the switch to fellow Championship side Bournemouth.

With just two months until the opening of the transfer window, the search for free agents is now on the back burner. Neil Warnock says that’s down to the fitness of players.

He said: “We probably could have signed Robbie Brady if we’d agreed everything there and then but it wasn’t to be. I see Bournemouth have took him.

“We don’t want to sign anybody. I would have took Robbie because he’s a good player but other than that they don’t come smashing me in the face at the minute, free transfers, because we’re talking about November now.

“If they’ve not had a club and we’re into November, the chances are fitness-wise, it will take us to the window to get them fit. You can’t really win now.

“I would have took Robbie because we had him up and he showed his fitness and what he could be. The quality on the ball that he had as well. Other than that, I can’t see anybody before the New Year now.”

The Boro boss recently ruled out a move for former Swansea City and Aston Villa full back Neil Taylor who is currently without a club.

Meanwhile, the Boro boss says Dijksteel is progressing well on his road to recovery and is the nearest to returning to the first team out of his injured defensive contingent.