Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray has conceded that he may be forced into adding some loan players to his squad over the coming days.
Ahead of tonight's Championship encounter against Burnley, Mowbray has 12 senior players struggling to be fit because of various injuries.
As a result, the boss has admitted that his team could do with a boost in terms of numbers.
"There comes a point, if the injuries keep coming, that you have got to think about the loan system because you run out of players," Mowbray is quoted as saying by the Northern Echo.
"There's no point in loaning players for the sake of it. But if one from the Premier League becomes available and you really feel your team could do with it, and we can afford it, then I think we would have to seriously look at it. I'm sure we will."
Boro are currently sixth in the table with 32 matches played.