Agnew fast-tracking ideas to Boro players

Middlesbrough’s caretaker manager Steve Agnew admits he is having to quickly get his players used to new ideas, as they battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Wednesday night’s six-pointer at fellow strugglers Hull City will be Agnew’s third match in charge after Aitor Karanka was sacked just under three weeks ago.

Boro haven’t won any of their last 12 league games, with their 3-0 victory over Swansea on December 17 their last success, a run that has dropped them into the relegation zone.

With games running out, a 0-0 draw against the same opponents did nothing to ease any fears of the drop, as it left them five points adrift of safety ahead of their visit to the KCOM Stadium.

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Agnew said: “In a perfect world, any head coach would like to go into a full pre-season to prepare, but we know in football that doesn’t happen very often.

“We have to put our ideas into the players how we can, and they have responded very well.

“We haven’t quite had the break we’ve needed but if we keep working it will come.

“I can tell you not just from me, but from the coaching staff and all the players, we are determined to keep Middlesbrough in the Premier League and we’ll be doing absolutely everything to ensure that happens.

“We’ve had limited time on the grass, but the preparation from the final whistle at Swansea has been terrific and I can feel the players are in a good place.”