Martin Smith: Former Blades boss Neil Warnock can be the man to get Middlesbrough and Ravel Morrison going

Neil Warnock is closing in on 40 years as a football manager and the 71-year-old former Sheffield United boss needs to get Middlesborough going after two defeats in his first three games.

Some of those that got the club in difficulties will be sidelined but Warnock has players who can help him to turn things round.

One of those is the much-travelled former Blade Ravel Morrison, now aged 28.

Will the league’s second oldest manager have the accumulated wisdom to get the best from Morrison where others, including Sir Alex Ferguson and lastly Chris Wilder, have failed?

Morrison’s sublime talent is only matched by his inability to show enough consistency to hold down a regular place.

It may be that the demands of the next few weeks at the industrial end of the Championship will not match Morrison’s skill set.

But managers will always take a chance on genuine talent if there is hope that the necessary intensity and industry can also be coaxed from a gifted individual.

There’s not much time left for Boro or Morrison.

But if anyone can, Neil Warnock can.

*If John Egan, or anyone else for that matter, ever hits a football better than he did for Sheffield United's late equaliser on Sunday at Turf Moor I want to be there.

Anyone who’s ever played the game knows the feeling when you catch one just right and it flies true.

The contact is so sweet you hardly feel your foot hit the ball.