Strachan eyes on January

Strachan: Considering options

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Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is already looking to the January transfer window.

The Boro boss is yet to record a victory since succeeding Garth Southgate at the end of October.

He has already bolstered his ranks with the loan signings of Dave Kitson, Marcus Bent and Isaiah Osbourne.

But Strachan's side are struggling for form and he is already looking towards the New Year.

"As a manager you're always thinking and I'd be a strange manager if I wasn't thinking about the January window," he said.

"The concern just now is making us a whole team and a better team.

"Where we end up que sera, sera, but we have to find a formula that makes us more of a goal threat. At the moment I can't put my finger on it.

"The most important thing in football is to score goals. Once we improve that area, we'll be fine.

"It hasn't been a great three weeks for the players, for me or for the fans but we're judged as players and managers when you walk out of the door. People will be unhappy now and I understand that."

Captain

Meanwhile, Strachan has explained his reasoning for taking the captain's armband off David Wheater before their draw with Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

"David is a young player who needs to concentrate on developing his football," he said.

Strachan gave the captain's role to Gary O'Neil and he said: "Gary has a lot of football under his belt and he knows the game.

"I also like the idea of having a captain in midfield where he is in a better position to direct things around the pitch."

Recovery

One player who Strachan will not be able to call on until next year is Matthew Bates - who is flying to American to continue with his rehabilitation from knee ligament surgery.

"I'm 11 weeks into the rehab now and I'm off to the States next week," he said.

"It's time to step things up and I think I will get the benefits of the three weeks.

"I know it's going to be a long road but I am almost a third of the way through it already. When I get the next third out of the way I'll be able to see the end of the road."