The 17 long-forgotton Boro players still plying their trade

MIDDLESBROUGH have enjoyed their fair share of transfer hits in recent seasons, with Kieran Scott arriving four years ago to completely revamp the scouting and recruitment team on Teesside.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

Since that summer, Boro's financial picture has dramatically improved thanks to a much-improved player-trading model which sees the club able to invest more into the playing squad without breaking Championship profit and sustainability regulations, thanks to the profit made from sales.

Not every transfer can be a hit though - particularly when needing to take risks to find value in the market.

As the club kickstarts a new summer recruitment drive, we take a look back at 17 long-forgotten Boro players who you might not realise are still playing.

ANDRAZ SPORAR

Signing on loan from Sporting CP in the window before Scott arrived in his new role, the striker managed eight goals on Teesside and the club decided against signing him permanently. The Slovakian moved to Panathaniakos and spent two-and-a-half years there.Now 31, he moved from the Greece side to join Alanyaspor in January where he managed three goals in ten appearances.

JAMES LEA SILIKI

Sporar wasn’t the only loan that summer, midfielder Siliki also arrived from Rennes. Struggling to make an impact he left at the end of the campaign and after short spells in Portugal and Turkey, the Cameroonian spent most of last season without a club before signing a short-term deal with Romanian top-tier side Buzau. After relegation, Siliki is a free agent.

JORDAN ARCHER

Signing for Neil Warnock as a free agent, Archer made six appearances before being released. He spent three years at QPR before joining Portsmouth last summer. The 32-year-old made only three appearances, but was regularly on the bench and is contracted for another year.

DEJAN STOJANOVIC