TONY Mowbray admits even he is not totally sure how he has transformed Middlesbrough from demoralised Championship strugglers to contenders for a place in next season’s Premier League.

Nigerian international Bartholomew Ogbeche is set to become the latest new face at the Riverside, with Boro hoping to complete a deal in time for tonight’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

However, with the emphasis on saving not spending money, Mowbray’s second spell at the club has been one of quiet evolution since succeeding Gordon Strachan for the second time in 16 months.

“I knew quite a few of the players,” said the former centre-back, who followed Strachan at Celtic.

“I had sold a few from Scotland and I knew we had good quality players.

“I just brought a different management style to what was here in the past. The players are basically the same.

“The squad has been reduced dramatically and the likes of Kris Boyd, who was a high-profile signing, has left, but it is generally the same players. They are doing well.

“I find it difficult to say this is what we have done differently and this is why it has changed around.

“There are a few different things. I do not think Joe (Bennett) was playing very much, Marvin (Emnes) was away on loan and we had Andrew Taylor at the end of last season who had not been playing either.

“There are a few players who, for whatever reason, were not being given an opportunity in the team. They have come back in and managed to flourish.”

One defeat in 23 league games endorses Mowbray’s methods, even if four straight draws have taken momentum from a flying start to the season.

Saltburn-born Mowbray is both a nice guy and a natural leader.

Encouraged to play more attractive football, his players have responded. Whereas Strachan relied on “men” for his physical approach, Mowbray’s faith in youth has been repaid.

It is impossible to get out of the Championship with silk alone, however, and, having looked for a more Strachan-type striker, Boro have ended up with a Mowbray one instead in Ogbeche.

The manager was anxious not to over-hype the 27-year-old former Paris Saint Germain player, despite highlighting as his main quality Boro’s biggest weakness recently.

“From what I have seen in training, he can score goals. He has decent feet, he is an experienced enough player and knows where the back of the net is,” was Mowbray’s assessment of a forward who scored twice in a behind-closed-doors game after being released by Greek side Kavala.

“He is not someone who is 6ft 2in (5ft 9½in) and is going to be powering headers in, he is a similar type of player to what we have.

“We have searched long and hard for a footballer who could bring some physicality and size, and knock a few centre-halves over, but we could not find one. Somewhere along the line, when time and money allows, that is something we will address.

“At the moment, we are hoping he will add something to what we have.”

What Boro lack in brawn, they make up for in spirit.

Mowbray said: “We have had one defeat in 23 league games, but in a lot of those we had to come from behind.

“At Barnsley this season, one down after two or three minutes, we won 3-1.

“At home particularly, I remember many times us being one down at half-time and either winning or drawing.

“The team has the character and spirit to come back from the adversity of being behind.

“Once you break the routine of losing and struggling, the players quickly start to believe they can turn things around.

“If you are not winning and you go behind, psychologically it is very hard to come back.”

New Forest boss Steve Cotterill will still be without ex-Boro skipper George Boateng for tonight’s match.