Middlesbrough could be targeting players in up to three positions as the January transfer window approaches, according to Teesside Live editor Phil Tallentire.

The Teessiders have endured a difficult start to the season and find themselves in 20th position in the Championship as they approach the halfway point of the season.

Injuries have certainly had a huge impact on Jonathan Woodgate's squad this term, and that has left him with a thread-bare group of players to pick from.

That means that recruitment in January will be of the utmost importance.

Plenty of supporters will have an opinion on where Middlesbrough need to strengthen, and according to Phil Tallentire, it will be crucial for the Teessiders to add an attacking midfielder and a striker to the ranks.

Writing in a Q&A session for Teesside Live, Tallentire said: "Based on the season so far you'd have to conclude Boro desperately need to improve their attacking options.

"In the summer they looked at players like Robert Glatzel, Ivan Toney and Eddie Nketiah so clearly they recognised that they needed to strengthen up front.

"But it was also the case that they wanted at least one attacking midfielder with Marcus Maddison and Grady Diangana on the radar.

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"If Boro can somehow bring in a match fit striker and a creative midfielder who can both improve the first team then the club will have enjoyed a successful January window.

"One other position that's proving problematic is the holding midfielder role. It's a position that's key to how Jonathan Woodgate wants to play but nobody has looked especially comfortable or effective there so far this season.

"Lewis Wing has been filling in but it's not his natural position. It also indicates that Woodgate doesn't have a great deal of faith in Adam Clayton to play in what is, after all, the 30-year-old's best position."

The verdict

Jonathan Woodgate will be determined to add to his squad in January.

With Middlesbrough currently sitting just above the relegation zone, the ambition for the second half of the season will be to move themselves up the table to a comfortable mid-table position.

You'd think that attacking reinforcements will be key, but if players move on then it may be a case of replacing them as well.