Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock has admitted to Teesside Live that he hopes Duncan Watmore has turned a corner after a slow start to the season. 

Watmore's lack of form and game time has plagued much of the club's start to the campaign, with their top scorer from last season looking a shadow of his former self in truth.

However the former Sunderland man was restored to the starting eleven recently against Sheffield United by his manager and rewarded his boss for showing faith in his abilities by scoring a screamer.

Now Warnock has admitted that he hopes the player has turned a corner this season, after previously having failed to impress him and his staff:

"He's a gem of a lad - not just as a player but as a person, he's incredible. Really humble sort of person.

"But he hasn't had a good start to the season and he knows that.

"He has had one or two problems as well which haven't helped.

"But hopefully he's turned the corner and can build on that now because you're not going to get a more genuine lad."

Watmore netted a total of nine goals during the previous campaign and will now be looking to increase his tally this season moving forwards after getting off the mark against the Blades.

Meanwhile Middlesbrough will be back in league action this weekend as they play host to Peterborough United at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

The Verdict 

This could be the turning point for Watmore that he has been dying out for this season and Warnock is clearly hopeful that it will be.

The forward is a player who can really help Boro kick on from now and it will be interesting to see how his partnership with Andraz Sporar will develop over time.

Watmore brings genuine pace to the attack and that is something that will give the team a whole new edge in offensive situations.

Moving forwards it now appears likely that Watmore will have a role in the starting eleven but as ever with a Warnock team, he must preform to keep hold of it.