Alex Gilbert's first Championship #Boro start since final day of 23/24 season. Only played 70 Champ minutes last season. Only been in squad on five occasions this season. Unused sub in all those games. Hellberg judging & selecting on what he sees rather than what's gone before

🚨 Tonight's kick-off has been delayed to 8.15pm. #Boro yet to arrive at the stadium due to road and weather conditions.

🚨 #Boro team news 3⃣ changes with Strelec, McGree and Gilbert (!) replacing Burgzorg, Hansen and the absent Browne 🙌 George Edmundson back on the bench 🤔 Something tells me trying to predict Kim Hellberg's starting XI is going to be a fools game!

🗣️ Luke O'Nien: 📱 Text message he received in Anfield dressing room ❤️ Emotional Facetime and embrace with parents after the game 🤝 Behind scenes mentor after what he witnessed last season 🗣️ 'I'm so glad to see the club in such a good place' | #SAFC www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256753...

💻 Hours of homework 🤝 Individual meetings 📱 Video analysis sent to players on WhatsApp 🗣️ 'It's important players feel we're doing everything we can to help them' ⚽️ Kim Hellberg has done a lot of work with #Boro's forwards - and there's more to come. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256750...

🤝 #SAFC bosses are working hard behind the scenes to line up 'important' January loan moves for youngsters and fringe players. Also hoping to offload a number of players who don't feature in RLB's plans. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256723...

⚽️ Kim Hellberg believes David Strelec will score 'a lot of goals' for #Boro this season - and plans to play the summer signing as a No.9. 🗣️'Everyone can see he has top quality. I really like him. He will be very good for us' www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256739...

🤝 Adilson Malanda has made a very strong first impression on #Boro boss Kim Hellberg. Hellberg believes Malanda has all the attributes to be a big success at the Riverside - but has stressed the 'important' need for patience. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256737...

✍️ #Boro confirm signing of teenage striker Layton Campbell. ⚽️ The 19-year-old scored 15 goals in 16 games for Whitley Bay at start of this season and impressed on trial at Boro. Professional deal now agreed and confirmed. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256738...

#Boro injury and team news ahead of Hull 🤞 Morris back in training and Edmundson has a chance of being on bench 🔺 Fry making good progress. Ayling will be back at some stage in December. Full story & Hellberg's thoughts on Hull 👇 www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256733...

⚫️ 'By 2030, I see us being in debate about being top club in the world' ⚪️ 'Recognising we're going to be at St James’ in pretty much its current format for years to come is important' ✍️ @scottwilsonecho.bsky.social interview with #NUFC CEO David Hopkinson www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256665...

Ahead of Liverpool/Man City double header, RLB warned of dangers of focusing too much on opposition. To do that, he said, would risk "scaring" his players. No chance. This #SAFC side doesn't do fear. Class again tonight. One point should have been three www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256715...

Lukas Engel set to return to #Boro after MLS loan. Cincinnati not expected to exercise option to make deal permanent, despite Engel featuring prominently & impressing. Return will give Kim Hellberg chance to closely assess Engel & decide what happens next. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256691...

Sunderland's December 2025 is daunting, but it's not December 2020. Spoke to three key decision-makers – Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Kristjaan Speakman & Florent Ghisolfi – about where the club has been, is today and hopes to be next season and beyond. www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

📹🔴⚪️ 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙈𝙔 𝘽𝙊𝙍𝙊! 🏟️ What we learnt from Kim Hellberg's first #Boro game and his significant early decisions 👏 Alex Bangura ⚽️ Tommy Conway & notable post-match moment 🤕 The injury situation in defence 🎙️ with @scottwilsonecho.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=okds...

#SAFC team news: 🙌 Romaine Mundle has 'perfect mindset' & wants to make up for lost time after return ⌛️ Dennis Cirkin & Leo Hjelde 'really close' to being ready & available 🤕 Noah Sadiki 'suffered' after Lewis Cook incident but fit to play vs Liverpool www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256667...

Morgan Whittaker's goal against Ipswich could well be #Boro's most important so far this season. Springboard for the forward & crucial moments that have followed. 👏 In training last week, Hellberg was instantly struck by one thing about Whittaker 👇 www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256653...

Two training sessions, one game - but we already know Kim Hellberg won't be at all afraid to do things his way at #Boro. A couple of his calls in yesterday's Derby win were particularly significant. ✍️ Analysis 👇 www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256608...

🗣️Eustace on #Boro: 'You only have to look at their squad. I don’t need to say anything else. They’ve got a top squad & have spent lot of money. They should be in top six' 🤔 Eustace claimed he 'didn't have to change anything' in prep for Hellberg's Boro www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256607...

🤞 Encouraging #Boro injury update, with Kim Hellberg saying he expects both Luke Ayling and Aidan Morris to be back 'soon' 🤒 Hellberg also revealed Alan Browne played through illness against Derby www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256607...

🥹 Kim Hellberg felt emotional when he saw Alex Bangura's joy after #Boro's Derby win & what it meant to the defender to be back playing. ❤️ 'He'd done two brilliant sessions & I felt there was so much quality. He was one of the best players on the pitch' www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256607...

🗣️ Kim Hellberg: ❤️ 'I will remember this for the rest of my life' 👏 Half-time promise to his players in #Boro dressing room 🔴 His delight at Boro's handling of a 'tough situation' www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256606...

✍️ #Boro 2-1 Derby: 😄 Whittaker has the last laugh 👏 Hellberg has his moment at full-time ⚽️ Horror start & admirable recovery 🔄 Brave substitutions 🙁 Defensive concerns www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256605...

Shocker of a start and the first 20 minutes or so was chaos. #Boro have grown into it but are vulnerable and exposed on the counter. Agyemang dangerous every time he gets the ball.

🚨 #Boro team news 4⃣ changes: Targett, Bangura, Burgzorg & Hansen in for Ayling, Morris (both missing from squad), Silvera and McGree ❗️Bangura's first start since January 2024. 🔄 Strelec on the bench, as is Archie Baptiste, young defender who joined from Tottenham in summer

💻 Kim Hellberg has been poring over footage of #Boro's strikers from last four seasons to ensure he plays to their strengths & finds 'structure that suits them'. 🗣️⚽️ And on Tommy Conway: 'He is very good. He will score lots of goals for us' www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256588...

As Eddie Howe put it, this has been a 'bitty' season for Anthony Gordon so far. ❓ Does he start on his Everton return today? And how do #NUFC get him firing consistently? 🗣️ 'Obviously that's going to come down to him...' www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256591...

Ahead of visit of #AFCB today, RLB outlines importance of player trading in #SAFC's bid to establish themselves and kick on in the Premier League. 🗣️ 'You have to know when it is the right time to sell a certain player' ✍️ @scottwilsonecho.bsky.social www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256565...

🥊 Bobby Dalton is only 11 fights into pro career & still works full time in Redcar - but already holds English welterweight title & has big hopes for future. 🤫'I'm the best kept secret in British boxing' 📺Tonight is his most important fight so far www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256545...

🔎 Inside Kim Hellberg's first #Boro press conference: 🗣️ Key word on repeat 🏟️ Riverside 'wow' moment ⚽️ Immediate tweaks ahead of Derby 💻 Detailed research on squad and side - but refusal to judge prematurely 👊 'The only thing that is important...' www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256585...

❓ Who starts in goal for #NUFC on Saturday? 🧤 After Nick Pope's recent errors, Eddie Howe admitted 'all options are on the table'. 🤔 But he then repeatedly praised Pope and his 'incredible' shot-stopping so far this season. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256575...

David Strelec back in training for #Boro and in contention to return to the squad for tomorrow's game against Derby. But Kim Hellberg admits it's a 'bit of a struggle' with the defenders, with Boro again looking short at the back Injury & team news 👇 www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256565...

🤐 Yoane Wissa has started training with #NUFC and Eddie Howe has a game in mind for the striker to potentially make his debut - but he's keeping it to himself... Full injury round-up ahead of Saturday's trip to Everton 👇 www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256571...

Hellberg wants high-energy attacking football at #Boro & crucially believes the players are well suited to his style. But he won't make drastic changes overnight. 🗣️ 'You want the players to feel safe. In the longer term, it's maybe a different answer...' www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256565...

📹🔴⚪️ 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙈𝙔 𝘽𝙊𝙍𝙊! 🗣️ Inside Kim Hellberg's first press conference as #Boro head coach 🎙️ with @scottwilsonecho.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc4E...

❤️ For Kim Hellberg, life at #Boro started in same way that coaching journey started 30 years ago - with his dad by his side. Back in Sweden, his three-year-old son Harry already has a new Boro shirt. His young family are moving to Teesside in January. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256565...

🗣️ Kim Hellberg's first press #Boro conference: 🤝 Instantly felt Boro was 'perfect fit' after meeting Kieran Scott 🆙 Ambition is promotion: 'That's nothing to hide from, that's what I'm aiming for' 👏 'There's the potential to do very good stuff here' www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256559...

🗣️ 'In terms of weaknesses, it's hard to point to anything specific' 👀 Eye for finding new roles for players 👊 'He wants to suffocate the opposition' 🤝 'Gets players on side very quickly' ✍️ Big read on Kim Hellberg & view in Sweden on #Boro's new boss www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256477...

🗣️ Kim Hellberg will hold his first #Boro press conference at 2pm today

🤝 Frank Lampard has 'a lot of respect' for Kim Hellberg and his 'impressive' record in Sweden. 🗣️ And the Coventry boss speaks from experience in offering #Boro's new head coach one crucial bit of advice 👇 www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256527...

🤝Kim Hellberg and David Selini will hold various meetings with #Boro staff members today before taking training for first time tomorrow. Players on scheduled day off today. New boss met players for first time on Monday and told of his joy at taking charge www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256508...

Viveash was reluctant to disclose what he told Tommy Conway in #Boro dressing room but we got a good idea from press conference that followed. Hellberg must now make an instant judgement on how best to deal with Conway's form & confidence. ✍️ Analysis 👇 www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256507...

🚨 #Boro injury update: 🦶 David Strelec situation explained after scan on foot issue and trip to London to see specialist ⌛️ Dael Fry waiting game 🤞 Aidan Morris 'got a whack' last night but withdrawal precautionary rather than anything to worry about www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256506...

Adi Viveash said sorry after #Boro's defeat to Coventry tonight but he has nothing to apologise for. Has led the side with real dignity through a testing spell and admits here staff & players were at 'low ebb' after Edwards exit. Viveash stepped up. 👏 www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256506...

Kim Hellberg has now witnessed first hand why Kieran Scott told of the need to “sprinkle a bit of magic” on the #Boro attack. ✍️ Boro 2-4 Coventry 👇 www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256505...

For much of second half, you suspect Frank Lampard would have gladly legged it with a point. That's credit to #Boro for stirring fightback & way they took the game to Coventry. But cutting edge goes a long way to explaining why Coventry are 10 points clear & Boro have won 3 in 11

🚨 #Boro team news 2⃣ changes with Silvera and McGree in for Targett (who's fit enough to be on bench) and Burgzorg ❓ 3-5-2 with Browne at RCB or 4-3-3 with Silvera at LB? ⚽️Strelec misses out again. 17-year-old striker Cruz Ibeh on the bench.

Inside Adi Viveash's first #Boro meeting with Kim Hellberg: 🤝 Viveash's first impressions ⚽️ Discussions around the 'boring' details that matter 🗣️ 'I didn't seek any assurances' 📅 More meetings planned at Rockliffe today ✍️ @scottwilsonecho.bsky.social www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256468...

In last three away games, #Boro have had 50 shots - but only 11 have been on target & they've only scored twice Adi Viveash wants players to feel 'free' after what he saw in training this week. Kim Hellberg's Hammarby numbers are promising ✍️ Analysis 👇 www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256432...

🚨 #Boro injury latest ahead of Coventry: ❓ Dael Fry uncertainty 🦵 Matt Targett update after defender forced off at Oxford with different problem to one that was troubling him before int break ⚽️ Strelec & Nypan issues explained: 'That wasn't ideal' www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256431...