Britt Assombalonga won’t play again for Middlesbrough this season and has left the club, Neil Warnock has confirmed.

Assombalonga and strike partner Ashley Fletcher will now become free agents after Boro opted against extending their contracts which were due to expire in the summer.

 Warnock revealed the news after the 2-1 win at Rotherham United in which neither featured, though 28-year-old Assombalonga had come off the bench in the weekend defeat to QPR.

He cost the club £15m in the summer of 2017, and leaves having scored 47 goals in four season, including five in 32 appearances this season.

Rovers had looked at a move for Assombalonga in the January transfer window of 2019, but a deal wasn’t forthcoming. Boro opted against extending his contract at the Riverside because of his wages, reported to be in the region of £35,000 a week, though Warnock believes he has a deal already lined up.

Tony Mowbray will likely in the market for a new striker in the summer, with Adam Armstrong expected to move on unless he can agree a new contract, and Rovers have signed free agents from Middlesbrough in each of the last two seasons.

But it appears that Assombalonga won’t follow suit, despite the previous links.

Warnock said: “We’ve told them that they won’t be involved again now.

“They won’t play and they won’t train with us. I just felt it was the right time. It’s difficult for players as well, it’s not their fault altogether.

“I thought it was time after I brought on Britt on at the weekend. When you’re looking at next season and you know you’re not going to be here, both of them have probably got another club now, so I’m told. I didn’t think there was any point carrying on. We’ve agreed to let them both go – it’s only two more weeks.”