Middlesbrough 0-0 Nottingham Forest LIVE: A positive start from Boro as they search for the opening match

Thoughts on and dates

I covered Sunderland for six years before moving to OJ this summer, so I saw a lot of Watmore and spoke to him many times as well.

One thing is for sure, at Watmore, Boro will get a player who, by character, will be positive on and off the field.

Sunderland released Watmore this year after he struggled to return to the squad after suffering a severe knee injury that cost him nearly three years of his career.

Prior to injuries, Tamer was one of England’s brightest young talents – he was a regular for the England U-21 side led by Gareth Southgate as well as Sam Allardyce in the Premier League’s Sunderland.

But since recovering from two ACL injuries, it cannot be ignored that Watmore has suffered – with bothersome injuries and is struggling to find a shape anywhere near the one he was suffering from before the injuries. Regular injuries couldn’t help his level, as he struggled to win a string of matches.

His release from Sunderland was a big deal because of that, but he was also one of the high earners at the club since his contract was from the PL era at the club and his pay was one they couldn’t afford – especially because he hadn’t started a game since December where Phil Parkinson settled into a team that rarely changed yet. the new Year.

I always felt that Watmore needed a new challenge and his personality meant wherever he went he could be guaranteed his signature with a committed and fit man.

But his fitness is a concern, and he has been known to struggle with the end product.

Boro can really do that with an extra option at the top and Watmore has the knack for playing as a striker or broad striker – although he can do perfectly with a large and powerful striker, while Tammur is more agile, off the shoulder-from-between. -Defender.

The beggars, though, cannot be choosers, and if he can prove his fitness at trial, he will arrive desperate to impress and prove himself.

The new challenge and confidence he would likely get from Neil Warnock could be ideal for Watmore to get close to the player he was before his first ACL injury.