Boro have made a flying start - but there is no time to stand still with big issues to address

THEY say that in football if you stand still you go backwards fast.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

And with that in mind, there is little time to stop and admire a successful summer transfer window at Middlesbrough.

Instead, in the ever-changing picture that is a football season, Boro chiefs will already be looking ahead after another summer of real change at the club that saw the head coach change, while 11 new players arrived, offset by just as many departures.

It leaves Boro looking in a strong position right now - helped by the fact that they've won their opening four games for the first time in 31 years.

But what next? What will be top of the club’s agenda now that the transfer window is closed until January?

We take a look at the immediate priorities.

JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW PLANNING

THE recruitment team doesn’t get much time to rest.

The players Boro sign in transfer windows are ultimately because of the hard work and long miles travelled in between windows as they identify and scout potential future targets.

After such a positive transfer window this summer, right now we sit with no real obvious priorities for the January transfer window.

But, inevitably, there will be areas Boro already have in mind to strengthen if possible, while there will be understandable proactive planning for any eventualities in which their players could be targeted by others.