Middlesbrough are likely to end Patrick Roberts' loan spell before the end of the January transfer window, sources have exclusively told Football League World.

FLW understands that a decision is likely to be made to cut his time at the club short in order to make room for another new signing.

The Manchester City man has endured a frustrating time since moving to the Riverside Stadium during the summer transfer window.

After his loan spell with the club last term was blighted by injury problems, the hope was that this season he would be able to kick on and establish himself as a key player under Neil Warnock.

Unfortunately for the 23-year-old he has found first team opportunities hard to come by under the veteran manager.

Roberts has featured just nine times for Middlesbrough so far this season with only four of those appearances coming in the starting line-up.

Neil Warnock has made little secret of his desire to bring attacking reinforcements to the club before the end of the January transfer window, however with funds limited across much of the EFL it seems that clubs are needing to make difficult decisions in order to fund such deals.

But with Roberts growing increasingly frustrated at his peripheral role at the Riverside Stadium, it seems that the club will arrange to end his Middlesbrough misery in order to free up funds for a new arrival.

Despite this, Middlesbrough have reached out to FLW to refute these claims regarding Patrick Roberts' future at the Riverside Stadium.