Former Middlesbrough midfielder Ray Parlour believes his former club should look to retain Isaiah Jones in next month's transfer window, amid talk of the player wanting an exit.

Once one of Boro's most promising assets, Jones has struggled since Michael Carrick's arrival due to issues on and off the field. This season, he's fallen down the pecking order since Ben Doak's emergence after joining on loan late in the summer transfer window after his own underwhelming start to the campaign.

Despite the fact that Jones remains a well-used part of the Boro squad this season, regularly coming off the bench to play his part, he's started only one game since September and that's led to some reports that he is unsettled on Teesside and would like to leave in the January transfer window in search of more game-time.

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Having said that, there are no signs of any unhappiness from the player around the club, while his performances from the bench have shown a player still very much committed to the cause. And with the 25-year-old contracted for another two seasons beyond this one, Parlour has made clear why he would be keeping Jones on Teesside.

The former Boro star told Football League World: "For me, you need strength in depth and I would not want to lose players in January, only strengthen if possible. The second half of the season is so important to have everyone fit and Carrick will believe that he can get his team in a good position come May for a challenge at promotion. Although Jones may have moved down the pecking order, he can be fresh coming into 2025, so he could be key for Boro."

Another potential factor Boro will no doubt consider if Jones' future does become a decision that needs to be made in January is the fact that they have no long-term prospects of signing Doak. The Liverpool loanee is highly thought of at Anfield and will almost certainly return to Liverpool next season to challenge for first-team football.