Hellberg updates on multiple Middlesbrough injury concerns | OneFootball

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg has issued a positive injury update on a number of his players who have been absent from pre-season fixtures.

Striker David Strelec and midfielder Myles Peart-Harris both picked up injuries in a 3-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town last weekend. It meant that they were both forced to miss Boro’s final pre-season match, a 3-3 draw with Espanyol.

“They should be back soon,” Hellberg said on the duo. “But they were not ready to play in this game. It shouldn’t be too long though, they should be back again soon.”

The two join a long list of Boro absentees. Alfie Jones, Alex Bangura, Kyle Joseph, Riley McGree and Tommy Conway have all missed the entirety of pre-season. Nevertheless, apart from Conway, Hellberg is hopeful that they could all return for Boro’s opening Championship fixture.

After missing out on promotion in the play-off final last term, they kick off their league campaign against Lincoln City in two weeks’ time.

“I think Alfie, Alex, Kyle and Riley all have hopes of being available for Lincoln,” revealed the Boro manager. “They are not training fully yet, so it’s about getting the balance right of when they return.

“But for me, I have hopes that all of those players could be around that game.”