Despite having pioneered a 4-2-3-1 system at both Hibernian and West Brom, the Middlesbrough manager has generally fielded a two-man attack since replacing Gordon Strachan at the Riverside.
The policy has hardly been an unqualified success, with Boro having failed to score in either of their last two matches, yet more of the same is likely when Hull City travel to Teesside this afternoon.
Scott McDonald is expected to return to partner Kris Boyd in attack, and Mowbray will again find himself struggling to fill the wide midfield positions due to a lack of natural wingers, a problem that is repeatedly forcing his hand when it comes to selection.
All my career, I've very rarely played 4-4-2, said the Boro boss. But it's about having the players to fit the formation.
I could sit here now and say We're going to develop a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, but if you haven't got the players to fit the formation, why on earth are you trying to do it
Look at Scunthorpe away.
I was playing Scott McDonald on the left wing, but Scott Mc- Donald is not a left winger. Yet in my mind, I haven't got a left winger who wants to stay wide, hug the touchline and spread the pitch out.
If you have wide players, you have options. It doesn't mean you play them every week, but it gives you options if you want to be expansive and really take the opposition on.
With total respect to what I've inherited, those options of going really wide and stretching the play are not really there. So I can't really use lots of different formations.
Mowbray will no doubt be hoping to address the situation in January, but admits his ability to recruit players will largely be dictated by the level of interest in his own squad.
David Wheater is expected to depart as the end of his contract draws near, but Boro are also expected to be receptive to offers for Gary O'Neil, Barry Robson and Boyd.
We will wait and see what January brings, said Mowbray.
From my perspective, it's probably a case of waiting to see what offers might come for our players, and assessing what openings that might create for us to replace or strengthen.
We want to help the balance of the squad. I don't think of January from an even keel of no-one going out, and I don't think we're going to be hugely in the market.
I think it's going to be a case of wheeling and dealing, but if that's the way it has to be, that's fine.
Having failed to establish himself at Watford, former Middlesbrough midfielder Josh Walker has joined League Two side Stevenage Borough on loan.
Boro goalkeeper Luke Coddington has been named in the England Under-16 squad to play a Victory Shield match in Northern Ireland on Thursday, December 9.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo