The correlation between Middlesbrough's stumble in the past two games and the injury to top scorer Will Lankshear has been a major talking point amongst fans.

Boro have taken just one point from their past two games without the 21-year-old, failing to score in both games.

"The Lankshear factor is a big one," The Gazette's Craig Johns told BBC Radio Tees.

"He offers so much in terms of his presence, in terms of his natural aura but also his movement in and around the penalty area. His hold up play with his back to goal, which I thought Kyle Joseph was particularly poor at in the Wrexham game.

"I think had Lankshear been on the pitch it would have made a difference just because of that general presence that he offers and the attention from defenders that he naturally gets that can bring the others into play."

However, the journalist doesn't think Lankshear's absence should have caused such a dramatic change in quality from the side.

Forward Kyle Joseph scored eight goals and made five assists during Hull City's promotion campaign last season but has yet to make a league goal contribution since signing for Boro this summer.

Meanwhile, striker David Strelec is a natural replacement for Lankshear's position but has failed to impress since returning from injury in October.

"Ultimately, the drop off from Middlesbrough shouldn't be as big as it has been," Johns added.

"With the players they do have in back up, they have to be doing better."

Listen to the full analysis below or on BBC Sounds here.