Kyle Joseph dropped? The Middlesbrough XI that Kim Hellberg must play v Blackburn | OneFootball

We take a look at the eleven we think that Kim Hellberg should go with for Middlesbrough against Blackburn Rovers, including Kyle Joseph being dropped

Middlesbrough have headed into the 2026-27 Championship season as one of the title favourites and their start has been steady with two wins from two across the league and cup.

Having edged past Wrexham by a goal to nil in the first round of the EFL Cup at the Riverside Stadium, they then managed to come from behind to defeat newly-promoted Lincoln City by two goals to one in the Championship on Teesside.

The Smoggies reached the play-off final last season and now, in what is Kim Hellberg’s first full season in charge and having spent heavily in the summer transfer window, there is an expectation that they challenge the likes of West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the top-of-the-table.

One of those big money signings has already begun to repay the faith shown by ‘Boro’s financial outlay on him and that is striker Will Lankshear, who scored the winner against Wrexham before his match-winning brace against Lincoln.

Some very good business has been done and it may take a bit of time for complete fluency to be there but Hellberg has a strong squad at his disposal and it is a squad that we think will be required this weekend.

Having begun with a 4-2-2-2 shape against The Imps, our suggested lineup for this week sees a reversion to the 4-2-3-1 system, albeit remaining fluid in true Hellberg-style, and another summer signing, Kyle Joseph, dropped to the bench for their visit to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers.

GK: Radek Vitek

No question over the starting goalkeeper for ‘Boro this weekend as former Bristol City loanee Radek Vitek will naturally retain his spot between the sticks, having arrived this summer to much fanfare for a fee believed to be in the region of £7 million from Manchester United.

Vitek will likely be one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship, but he will be hoping that his defence shields him enough against what could end up being a dangerous Blackburn attacking unit.

RB: Callum Brittain

Another player that will of course retain his spot is at right-back with former Blackburn man Callum Brittain starting against his former club.

Now converted fully to more or less and out and out full-back, having transitioned from midfield into a wing-back during his time at Rovers, Brittain will be a threat down the right flank and will likely give Harry Pickering a tough afternoon.

CB: Alfie Jones

The first big call we have made and suggest Hellberg also does is sticking Canada international centre-back Alfie Jones in ahead of the experienced Luke Ayling.

It's not necessarily a slight on Ayling’s performance nor importance, but Boro fans would have dreamed about a fully fit Jones alongside Adilson Malanda as a formidable pairing last year.

Jones went to FIFA World Cup 2026 injured but has now regained full fitness and, with Ashley Phillips having now arrived, it may only be a fleeting moment that the Jones-Malanda pairing gets a run out at the start of a season but it is one that makes sense.

CB: Adilson Malanda

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Adilson Malanda is not a man that will be dropped by Hellberg anytime soon, you'd think..

Phillips has been brought in to compete with Jones and Ayling to start alongside Malanda, who has been excellent since he arrived from Charlotte FC in the MLS in January.

LB: Max Arfsten

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Despite being more of a winger for Columbus Crew in the MLS, Max Arfsten has likely come to Middlesbrough to play as an attack-minded left-back in the mould of former loanee Ryan Giles.

Hellberg may be keen to drop left-back Neto Borges, given he was somewhat flagging towards the end of his time on the pitch against Lincoln, and therefore any lack of energy or pace would be a worry up against Ryoya Morishita or Jayden Fevrier for Rovers.

And in will likely come Arfsten, but the American may leave some space behind him against a counter-attacking side.

DM: Abdoulaye Kante

Having been replaced around the hour mark in their opener, Abdoulaye Kante’s spot may be up for grabs this weekend.

But given the lack of depth in midfield at Boro, and Aidan Morris perhaps not yet ready to start matches after recovering from injury, we expect Hellberg to stick by the former Saint-Etienne defensive midfielder from the beginning.

DM: Sebastian Berhalter

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Alongside Kante in anchoring the midfield will again likely be Sebastian Berhalter, who is another member of the United States’ FIFA World Cup 2026 squad who has moved to Middlesbrough this summer.

Berhalter has impressed in a relatively short space of time on Teesside, but he's still waiting for his first goal for Boro.

RW: Morgan Whittaker

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Morgan Whittaker came in for criticism for his performances at the back end of last season and in the play-offs but, after a slow start to his time at Boro, remains a key man and someone trusted by Hellberg to be a point of difference in the final third.

His 14 Championship goals last season were a big help to secure a top six spot, but Whittaker will be wanting to get off the mark for the new season at Ewood Park.

AM: Riley McGree

The big decision that we think Hellberg should make and the one that changes the shape is for Kyle Joseph to be dropped from playing alongside Will Lankshear and replaced by Australia international Riley McGree.

McGree, also acting as a slightly more conservative pick to be an extra body in midfield for what is a tricky trip to Blackburn, provided a magnificent assist for Lankshear to win the game in stoppage-time – and should be rewarded with a start at Ewood Park.

LW: Leo Castledine

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Perhaps another man that could well find himself out of the side but we believe that Hellberg should stick by for now is Leo Castledine.

The young attacker joined ‘Boro in January from Chelsea after a fruitful few months on loan at League One side Huddersfield, and despite struggling initially in the Championship, he provides a work ethic and general technical quality to be stuck by for tough away games.