Birmingham City v Middlesbrough KIM Hellberg will have a pang of regret when he renews acquaintances with former Middlesbrough defender Dael Fry today.

The Teessider’s 21-year association with his hometown club ended in the summer following his shock decision to leave and join Birmingham City.

The central defender chose to quit Boro when his contract ended. Despite discussions regarding fresh terms, he left on a free as his deal expired at the end of June.

Fry’s move to the Midlands - he plumped for Blues ahead of a number of other clubs - has not yet worked out as he’d have hoped.

Birmingham City defender and former Middlesbrough favourite Dael Fry.

placeholder image — Birmingham City defender and former Middlesbrough favourite Dael Fry.

His only start arrived in a 6-1 home drubbing to Brentford in the Carabao Cup and his two Championship appearances have so far arrived late on from the bench.

For his part, Hellberg is sad that Fry, 29, has moved on, but is also philosophical.

He said: "For me, it was very disappointing to lose Dael. I think he was playing his best football at the end of the season for us.

"I think he was very, very good and I like Dael very, very much as a person.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg, pictured during the Carabao Cup tie at Doncaster Rovers. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

"It will be good to see him again, sadly in a different shirt, but that is how it is.

"That's football sometimes."

Boro sign off for the extended international break after their 11th fixture of the season today.

Given that Hellberg is effectively building a new-look side - 12 new signings arrived in the summer while the likes of Fry, Hayden Hackney, Morgan Whittaker, Matt Targett and Alan Browne all departed - the Swede has been relatively content with Boro’s early-season progress in the circumstances.

That said, the break will arrive at a decent juncture.

He continued: "We always talked about this because of the situation with so many new players in and so many players lost and left.

"We know this was always going to be a tough start for us in terms of structure and how we look as a team and getting everyone up to speed physically, tactically, and in all those areas.

"I think the players have done absolutely excellently given that situation.

"I think that break gives us the opportunity to work on things, work on different things for different players to get into the physical fitness required for the way we want to play.

"In that way, it comes very, very good and then we have a good chance to work very, very hard up to the next set of games. "