Kim Hellberg picked out two Middlesbrough players for specific praise after Preston win
Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway (left) hugs boss Kim Hellberg after he is substituted(Image: PA)
Kim Hellberg admits he really likes how Middlesbrough used the Premier League loan market before his arrival last summer.
While Sverre Nypan hasn’t been able to have the impact he would have hoped for on Teesside after joining from Manchester City, Boro also added to the experience in their squad by Matt Targett and Alan Browne from Newcastle United and Sunderland.
While Boro have a preference for permanent signings, the pair have been key players for Boro this season, and highlight how the Premier League loan market can be effective in adding ready-made quality that Boro otherwise couldn’t afford without loan deals where they pay just a fraction of the wages.
Making the point after another stellar performance from Browne in the emphatic victory over his former club Preston North End, Hellberg said: “When he scored the first goal, I’m thinking, ‘What is happening!? Browney’s scoring again?!’ He’s just an unbelievable person, works so hard.
“The thing I like so much about this group is that there’s some loan players that are a bit older but still do everything for the team. I think that’s so impressive.
“He plays in different positions and he makes them his own position a little bit. He uses his best quality. I’m just so impressed. I was going to sub him in the closing stages to save him some minutes, but couldn’t because of Malanda. But that was a top performance again.”
Browne wasn’t the only Boro player to earn specific praise from the head coach after Boro’s emphatic victory over the Lilywhites at the Riverside.
Adding to his goal at Stoke in midweek – which was his first from open play since August – Conway made it three goals in two games with his brace to help Boro to their 4-0 victory.
“His work rate is unbelievable,” Hellberg said of Boro’s number nine. “He also gets the red card by his pressing. He scores three goals now in two games – providing top energy to the team.
“I always see him as a top player, it’s just that as a striker, of course, you need to also get those goals, and he is doing that now. I think he’s a top striker, he’s a top person, I’m so happy for him and no one deserves it more than him.”
Incidentally, if the right option becomes available in the final week of the window, Boro may use the Premier League loan market once again to add further competition for Conway at the top end of the pitch, as they look to consolidate their position in the Championship automatic promotion spots.
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