Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray has revealed that his players have begun a table tennis tournament in order to boost morale.

The Championship outfit, who have clinched just one victory in their last nine matches, have begun to concentrate on a new game, which was fronted by Kieron Dyer.

"We've started a table tennis tournament in the changing room," the Northern Echo quotes Mowbray as saying. "It's actually Kieron Dyer's doing and he's probably the worst player.

"That's actually got all the lads together in a good way and it's little things like that which might help us get out of this rut."

Middlesbrough are five points away from a playoff place in the table.