NEIL Warnock is a man who has his tried and tested players of his long career and Lee Peltier is long-time member of that illustrious club. 

Peltier, 34, has played under Warnock at Leeds United and most recently Cardiff City before signing for Middlesbrough in the summer after being released by West Brom.

The experienced and versatile player has featured three times in the Championship this season for Boro and has proved to be a welcome addition to the squad given their injury problems at the back. 

Paddy McNair and Marc Bola have missed Boro last three games in the league while Darnell Fischer is expected to miss the season because of a knee injury. 

Boro are now sweating on the fitness of Anferenee Djiksteel who limped off in Boro's 2-1 defeat to Blackpool with a haamstring injury. 

Warnock is now incredibly thankful for having him in the squad but the Boro boss joked that it should go both ways. 

“He’s a manager’s dream" Warnock said.

“I’ve said to him a few times over the years I must have made him a millionaire. I think I’m the only manager that signs him!

“But he’s just such a good lad and a proper defender.

“He can sometimes give away one or two silly free-kicks which he’s just got to be a bit cuter with, but he’s a dream.

“In the dressing room he’ll tell people if they’re not doing their stuff, and he’s not bothered who he talks to.

“He’s got a great personality and the lads will learn a lot from him.

“Yes, he is limited. He can’t go forward like a lot of these lads can. But wow can he defend! It's no coincidence we've had two clean sheets so far and he started in both of them.

“I have been trying to let him go up for corners now for 15 years. He keeps telling me if I let him go up he will score. I’m actually letting him go up now, so we’ll see.”

Bola and McNair have been back in training for Boro are the management staff are hopeful they will both be able to make a return to the squad for Saturday's lnchtime kick-off against Reading. 

Warnock says Peltier's versatility across the pitch won't make him surplus to requirements in the Boro squad. 

Warnock added: “He actually played centre midfield for me a few times at Cardiff in our promotion campaign. He’ll play anywhere for me.

“I would like a natural left-footer on that side, and hopefully Bola will be back soon and we haven’t got to worry about that any longer.

“There aren’t any free transfers that I am looking at that are any better than what we’ve got. So that’s why I’m saying I can’t see us doing anything because there is nobody that knocks my block off really.”