Middlesbrough fans will be licking their lips at double weekend development | OneFootball

Middlesbrough supporters will be loving Will Lankshear's and Sebastian Berhalter's exploits over the weekend on the international stage

We are just over a week into the international break, and players are taking to the global stage to represent their countries across the world, as two Middlesbrough stars have impressed.

The first international break of the season is here, as clubs across the Championship will have the opportunity to take a step back, rest, and assess their campaigns so far.

As for Middlesbrough, they are about where most predicted them to be, sitting in third just below Swansea City and West Ham United, as Kim Hellberg looks to right the wrongs from last time around.

Numerous Boro players have jetted off to represent their countries across the three weeks, including Sebastian Berhalter and Will Lankshear, who have both already caught the eye.

Sebastian Berhalter scored a rocket in the United States' 4-1 thumping of Peru

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Berhalter, 25, joined Middlesbrough in the summer from Vancouver Whitecaps for around $1.5 million (£1.1 million), having represented the United States at their home World Cup recently.

The midfielder scored and assisted against Turkey during his only start for the North American nation at the tournament, and having shone in the MLS for the past few years, he headed to Teesside in the recent window for a cut-price fee.

Berhalter would head off to link up with Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT squad in this international break, and after replacing Yunus Musah on the hour mark against Peru, he helped to put his country 3-1 up by assisting Julian Hall, before scoring a rocket of his own to round out a 4-1 victory.

The US takes on Chile, Mexico, and Canada over the next couple of weeks, and Berhalter will be looking to continue to impress before returning to Boro.

Will Lankshear scored his first England U21 goal on his first appearance in the Young Lions' 4-2 victory over Kazakhstan

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Elsewhere, Lankshear has also had a solid international break thus far, grabbing a goal on his debut for England's U21 side against Kazakhstan in a 4-2 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molineux.

Lankshear, 21, joined Middlesbrough in the summer for an initial £10 million, rising to £20 million from Tottenham Hotspur off the back of an excellent loan spell in the Championship with Oxford United, and has impressed heavily since arriving on Teesside.

With eight goals in 11 appearances across all competitions already, Lankshear is proving to be worth that investment, and his performances saw him called up to the England U21 side for the break.

Behind Southampton's Divin Mubama in the pecking order, Lankshear made a statement by coming on for his first appearance for the Young Lions and netting the fourth in a 4-2 victory over Kazakhstan.

Sebastian Berhalter and Will Lankshear have impressed for Middlesbrough this season

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As Middlesbrough look to push for automatic promotion this season, Hellberg will be looking to Berhalter and Lankshear to drive the club forward, with both having already impressed.

Alongside compatriot Aidan Morris in the middle of the park, the former Columbus Crew pair have struck up a seamless relationship at Riverside, as Boro's investment in the American market pays dividends.

Lankshear looks a major upgrade on Tommy Conway in terms of an out-and-out goalscorer, and should Middlesbrough sustain a promotion push this season, he will be crucial to those efforts.

Kim Hellberg will be hoping for continued impact from Sebastian Berhalter and Will Lankshear for Middlesbrough beyond the international break

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Upon the return to Championship action on October 10th, Hellberg will be hoping Berhalter and Lankshear come back fit and firing, and ready for the next block of games.

A home clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers awaits them next, in what could prove to be a crucial game come the end of the season.

With Conway, Kyle Joseph, and David Strelec waiting in the wings, Lankshear has competition up top, as does Berhalter, with Rokas Pukstas and Connor Barron ready to pounce, as Hellberg will be hoping for the continued impact of his international stars.