Mark Crossley insists that Sol Bamba has been signed by Middlesbrough because Neil Warnock can trust the defender.

Boro secured a deal to bring the centre-back into the club after he underwent cancer treatment.

Bamba has been given the all-clear and will reunite with Warnock, with whom he has worked previously at Cardiff City.

In total, the 36-year-old has made 104 appearances under the manager, and has played for him in the Premier League too.

In those games, he has scored 10 goals, while also providing two assists, from centre-back, and Crossley thinks that Warnock has built up a level of trust with the player, explaining his signing.

Speaking exclusively to the Transfer Tavern, the former goalkeeper said: “I think he’s one of them, Neil Warnock, he’s very, very, very loyal to the players that have worked with him before.

"If he can trust someone, and I totally agree, he obviously trusts the guy, he likes him in and around the place, he probably likes him in the dressing room, he’s probably a character.”

Bamba has already played twice for Boro since his signing, coming on as a late substitute in the 2-1 win over Bristol City and playing the full 90 minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Blackpool in the EFL Cup.