In the January transfer window there were bound to be changes after new boss Tony Pulis took over from Garry Monk.
As we know the window proved to be a busy period as Pulis promised numerous changes in a need to trim the Boro squad he inherited from Monk down to a more manageable number.
Danish forward 26-year-old Martin Braithwaite made it clear he wanted to leave on the last day of the transfer window and Pulis allowed Braithwaite to go on loan to Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.
In France, where it seems despite few opportunities young Dane Braithwaite is looking to stay rather than return to Teeside to fight for his place in the Boro side which could end up in the Premier League if their current form continues.
As we know Pulis also allowed Ashley Fletcher to join Sunderland on-loan plus he sold Cyrus Christie to Fulham and allowed Adlene Guedioura to leave on a free transfer to join Nottingham Forest all on deadline day.
Tony Pulis also sold Chris Forshaw to Leeds United for £4.5million in mid January to complete his winter departures and trimming of the Boro squad.
Clearly at the moment Pulis is not missing any of the players he moved on very much as he has managed the club to 10 wins, 2 draws and only 5 losses (one of which was their FA Cup loss to Brighton) since he took over at Christmas 2017.
The former West Brom and Stoke City manager has overseen a steady improvement in his Boro side and if the trend continues you would not put it past Pulis’ Boro outfit to secure automatic promotion, so their rivals should be warned!