New Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan has revealed he is already on the lookout for a free scoring hitman to bring to the Riverside Stadium.

The former Celtic manager took over the managerial reigns at the Championship high-flyers earlier this week following Gareth Southgate's shock exit and is already keen to stamp his own authority on the playing staff.

However, the Scot will be forced into pursuing loan deals until the January transfer window opens, something he admits is unfamiliar territory for him.

"Usually I am at a club where I am being asked to loan players out, so it has been unusual for me to keep phoning and annoying managers," Strachan told Sky Sports News.

"But we are short in the striking department, we have Leroy - young Franks, and Marvin is a forward - so I think if you look at teams who have been promoted recently they have been strong forward lines in big numbers."

The wily Strachan has also revealed he has always heeded the advice of his former boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, who told him of the importnance of frontman compared to any other position on the pitch.

"Sir Alex Ferguson always said to me the most important part of your team is your strikers and we need to make that stronger," he said.