CHRIS Wilder is expecting a mad rush in the last week of the transfer window for most clubs with the Middlesbrough boss desperate to add to his thin squad.

Wilder has described the next seven days as pivotal for the club with Boro yet to taste victory this season following their 3-2 defeat to Queens Park Rangers.

The Boro boss has described the transfer market as the most difficult he has operated in during his managerial career but the club have made a breakthrough in a deal for RCD Mallorca striker Matthew Hoppe who is expected to complete his move this week.

While recruiting players have presented their own problems, there is the added issue of making sure they are physically up to scratch to play.

Regarding the transfer window, Wilder said: “I can just see it happening now, there will be a mad rush in the last week and I think we will be involved in that as well.

“We’d love to get things done, we all would here from the top, through the guys negotiating, through me, through the coaches. We’d love to have players in because we are still conditioning them with the likes of Marcus Forss and Chuba (Akpom), he obviously came into the group late.

“Players that we will sign, we have to get them up to speed. That is where it’s at. I’ve spoke about it and I think the window should be shut.”

Following the 3-2 loss to Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, Wilder questioned whether he had struck the right balance between preparing his squad for the game and recruiting potential targets.

In the build up to the game in West London, it was a topic of discussion with Wilder knowing he has work to do on both fronts. He said: “One of the things that I have to be careful with, I’m always talking to myself and I’m that type of person. Another chat with myself is that I don’t get caught up in it because it’s not my whole job to recruit players.

“I’m part of a group and I’m asked opinion. I give my view in terms of what is needed from a personality point of view and what type of player that we want.

“I’m not a head coach where somebody goes and buys players and we coach them. I think that I am part of that but our biggest talent is preparing that team right for a Saturday afternoon so it’s important that I get the balance right. I need to get my balance right between that and trying to bring players in.”

While the American Hoppe is expected to be confirmed as a Boro player this week, the club have received a significant blow in the news that Josh Coburn could be out for the next two months with a knee injury.