Kim Hellberg reveals bold prediction for new Middlesbrough signing | OneFootball

The Middlesbrough manager is predicting a career season in front of goal for Kyle Joseph

Middlesbrough were by no means a bad attacking side last season, but Kim Hellberg's side came under some fire for a lack of consistency in front of goal in important moments in the 2025/26 campaign.

From their 3-1 defeat against Coventry City in mid-February, which saw them relinquish top spot, Boro would win just four of their final 14 league games.

Amongst them were 4-0 and 5-1 wins over QPR and Watford, respectively, but there were too many instances where the goalscoring well had dried up, and despite being dominant in games, Middlesbrough were unable to make that dominance count, and would drop points against sides further down the table.

It was even seen in the play-offs, too. Boro had the chance to finish Southampton in the first half of their semi-final, but failed to score, and in the second leg, despite getting that early goal, ran out of steam as the strength in depth of Tonda Eckert's Saints pulled through. The play-off final followed a similar theme, controlling the game but failing to break Hull City down.

So, attacking depth and more clinical forward options were right at the top of the transfer wishlist this summer, and Kim Hellberg believes that they've hit the jackpot already.

Kim Hellberg believes Kyle Joseph can be a 20-goal-a-season striker

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A lot of investment has been made in the frontline already this summer at the Riverside.

Will Lankshear arrives with the potential to become Middlesbrough's record transfer if all add-ons are completed, but before then, Kim Hellberg moved quickly to secure the arrival of Kyle Joseph, who joined from Hull for around £4 million.

The 24-year-old was absent for just two games for the Tigers last season as they finished sixth, netting eight and assisting five along the way, but he would end up missing the play-off final after suffering an ankle injury against Millwall in their semi-final win at the Den.

Joseph has returned from that injury in time for pre-season, and what was pinpointed as a marquee arrival for Boro is already showing signs of living up to expectation for Kim Hellberg.

"I like a lot about Kyle — his power, his ability to run, and run with pace. That was something we didn't have last season," Hellberg said, per the Northern Echo.

"I think he has a goalscoring possibility, too. He scored eight goals last season, but I think he has the ability to increase that next season. He's a player that could even go up and touch 15-20 goals a season.

"I think that based on what I've seen from him — good movement in the box, his desire to learn and improve, and his drive. There are a lot of things to like with him. He can press all over the pitch as well."

With fellow new attacking arrival Lankshear joining in with training for the first time this week, alongside Tommy Conway, David Strelec and Morgan Whittaker, there should be enough attacking quality that one man doesn't need to take the mantle and score 20 next year for Boro.

But if Joseph were to make that step, and double his best seasonal goalscoring tally at the Riverside in 2026/27, there'd definitely be no complaints from fans, nor the Middlesbrough boss.

How Middlesbrough fans have reacted to Kim Hellberg's Kyle Joseph prediction

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There was a little bit of scepticism around the Middlesbrough fanbase when Joseph first joined. The 24-year-old underperformed his expected goals by two last season, similarly to Conway, who took a bit of criticism for his wastefulness in front of goal from pundits and Boro fans.

But Joseph's eight strikes came from just 47 shots, 35 fewer than Conway managed, and less than half of what Whittaker took throughout last season, too. Playing for a more ball-dominant side could see the 24-year-old presented with the chance to push 20 goals.

Ultimately, given how much of an impact Kim Hellberg made at the Riverside in his first half-season, a lot of the reaction from Middlesbrough fans online is that, if their Swedish boss believes Joseph can score 20 goals next year, so do they.

"I have a sneaky feeling he and MPH [Myles Peart-Harris] are gonna surprise a lot of us and be really good signings," one fan responded to a tweet promoting the Echo's report. "Could only dream of that. Hope he’s right," another added.

"Could be a proper bit of business this one. Coupled with Lankshear, it’s a class start to the window," a third fan said, and while there was frustration before the Spurs youngster joined, there's now a newfound positivity, with the 21-year-old leading the arrivals; it's a good window thus far.