Boro boss Gareth Southgate had pledged to give his two youngsters Jones and Ross Turnbull a shot at the number one jersey after Schwarzer left for Fulham.

But just two weeks into the new season, the club has been plunged into a keeper crisis after Jones damaged his finger.

Now Southgate has launched an eleventh hour hunt for a new keeper to boost the club's ranks.

“Brad is waiting to see a specialist but we are optimistic that it is not a major problem," Southgate told the local Evening Gazette. "It’s not as bad as the finger injury he picked up last year.

“As I have said before, I don’t envisage us doing much business before the window closes, but the one thing we have to think about is cover for our keepers.

“I think both Brad and Ross Turnbull have shown in the opening games that the faith we have in them is fully justified, but maybe we need some extra cover for them.”