Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg has expressed cautious optimism that several first‑team players missing from the 3-3 pre‑season friendly with RCD Espanyol will be available for the club’s Championship curtain‑raiser at the Riverside against Lincoln City.
Fitness concerns ahead of the season proper
Hellberg confirmed the squad were managing a number of minor knocks picked up in recent training and behind‑closed‑doors fixtures, but stressed that the majority are not expected to face prolonged lay‑offs. Two members of the squad, David Strelec and Myles Peart‑Harris, were absent for the Espanyol match after sustaining injuries in a closed friendly with Huddersfield, while others were also withheld as a precaution.
The Boro boss offered guarded reassurance about the short‑term outlook, indicating the club are hopeful these players will rejoin full training in time for the early competitive programme.
“They should be back soon, but they were not ready to play in this game. It shouldn’t be too long though – they should be back again soon.”
Who missed out and what to expect
Alongside Strelec and Peart‑Harris, Hellberg confirmed that Alfie Jones, Riley McGree, Alex Bangura and new signing Kyle Joseph did not feature against the Spanish visitors owing to fitness management. The manager indicated none of those absences were considered long‑term, and he has “hopes” they could be available for the league match on Saturday 15 August.
- David Strelec – recovering from a knock sustained in a prior closed‑doors match
- Myles Peart‑Harris – similarly absent following a training injury
- Alfie Jones, Riley McGree, Alex Bangura, Kyle Joseph – not training fully yet, but expected to be back soon
- Tommy Conway – facing a longer absence of around four to five weeks following a hernia operation
Implications for selection and early fixtures
Hellberg faces a short turnaround: a Carabao Cup first‑round tie against Wrexham at the Riverside sits between the Espanyol friendly and the league opener with Lincoln. Restoring key players to full fitness will be a priority given the compressed schedule. The manager praised his side’s performance in the high‑scoring friendly and sees the game as a constructive step in pre‑season preparation, while balancing the risk of rushing players back.
| Player | Status | Expected availability |
|---|---|---|
| David Strelec | Knock | Short term |
| Myles Peart‑Harris | Knock | Short term |
| Alfie Jones | Not training fully | Hopes for Lincoln |
| Riley McGree | Not training fully | Hopes for Lincoln |
| Alex Bangura | Not training fully | Hopes for Lincoln |
| Kyle Joseph | Not training fully | Hopes for Lincoln |
| Tommy Conway | Hernia operation | 4–5 weeks |
For supporters, the message from the manager is clear: the club will prioritise careful rehabilitation rather than haste, but there is an expectation that the bulk of the squad will be available for the early competitive fixtures. Monitoring of training reports in the coming days will provide clearer confirmation of who will be fit to face Wrexham in the cup and, importantly, Lincoln in the Championship opener.
