A QUEUE of Football League clubs are interested in taking Middlesbrough midfielder Lewis Wing on loan when the January transfer window opens.

But Boro will not rush in to allowing the promising player to leave, particularly if they can seal a Carabao Cup semi-final spot by beating Burton on December 18.

Wing, who scored a stunner to defeat Crystal Palace in the previous round, has put himself firmly in Boro’s plans with displays that suggest he can handle the pace of the Championship.

He was handed a new three-year deal last month to prevent him from leaving as a free agent next year, and also a reward for impressing as part of Tony Pulis’ first team squad.

Middlesbrough decided against letting Wing go on loan during the summer window because Pulis had left it late to bring in the additional midfield options he had hoped for.

Now Wing is one of seven players capable of playing in the middle for Middlesbrough and there is even talk of a further addition in that area in the new year, with Queens Park Rangers’ Luke Freeman still on the Middlesbrough radar.

Even though Middlesbrough will likely listen to offers for certain players, Wing is someone they want to keep hold of for the longer term so it will be a case of whether Pulis is happy to lose him for half the campaign. The player himself might also be reluctant to go if there is a possibility of a Wembley outing when he has been such a key part of the Carabao Cup surge.

Yeovil would like him back there after his impressive loan in League Two last season, but Middlesbrough know the higher standard he can play at will benefit him for the longer term – although they would not like him to join a promotion rival.

He has made enormous progress since plying his trade with Northern League club Shildon 18 months ago. He has adapted well to training and playing with Middlesbrough’s first team squad and has put himself right into Pulis’ thinking.

Asked whether the Newton Aycliffe-born player would be allowed to leave on loan in January a few weeks ago, Pulis said: “We've got a long way to go before January, we might have injuries, suspensions and everything else, you might be talking to me at the end of December and Lewis will be back in the team.”

Championship clubs at the bottom end of the table such as Millwall, Rotherham and Preston are believed to be keeping an eye on things, while those at the top are likely to find it more difficult should he be allowed to leave on loan.

Blackburn Rovers, managed by Tony Mowbray, are known to be interested in taking Hartry Chapman back to Ewood Park too.

Wing was this week handed the goal and player of the round award for the Carabao Cup fourth round victory over Palace.

He hit both goals in the win including a stunner, to beat the likes of Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Heung-Min Son to the award.

Wing said: “I was surreal, all my mates were getting on to me saying ‘look at your names next to all those other names’. Hopefully I can do it again.

“After many times before, to do it on a big scale like that against good opposition was the biggest one yet and the best one. I didn’t know about the player of the round, but I’m over the moon to get both of them.”

Wing, unlikely to start at Brentford on Saturday, started the season well with a fine introduction from the bench at Millwall which sparked a fightback and to earn a 2-2 draw.

He then found himself out of the starting line-up and then out of the match-day squads for a period, but was back in the mix for the 2-0 win over Wigan in the last game.

Middlesbrough are looking to add to the squad in the new year, with wingers a particular area where Pulis is keen to strengthen.