Middlesbrough FC v Watford: Kim Hellberg to draw upon experience of veteran - plus squad message
INSTEAD of experiencing a nerve-shredding afternoon against a Watford side who have beaten them on their past three meetings, Middlesbrough can relax a little - and concentrate on trying to play their way into some form - before the real stuff starts again.
Granted, Boro can still finish in the top two, but it remains highly unlikely. The proper business will begin in a couple of weeks time when play-off season commences, with the Teessiders effectively clinching a top-six finish on Wednesday evening.
Boro's last experience of the end-of-season lottery arrived in 2022-23, when a member of their coaching staff helped plot their downfall in Adi Viveash.
The much respected assistant coach was cited as a key influence in former club Coventry City's tactical success against Boro in the semi-finals that campaign.
Relatively new to English football, Kim Hellberg is likely to draw upon the specific input of Viveash next month.
Hellberg, whose side finish off with a final-day trip to a Wrexham side fighting with Hull City for the final play-off place, said: “We have players as well as staff who have experience of it.
“Experienced players overall. Then, of course, Adi with his experience as a coach in these moments is very, very important to me.
“There’s a lot of people that need to contribute to the last weeks of the season, and will play a big part of it. It can be players that come from nowhere to be ready to do what is needed.
“It can be very small moments that decide things at the end of the season, whatever you're playing for. I'm looking forward to seeing who grows from this experience and see this as the opportunity that it is.”
Newly-crowned EFL Championship player of the season Hayden Hackney remains sidelined, with Hellberg unable to shed any further light on if he will be available again this season.
The talismanic midfielder has missed the club's last six matches, with his last appearance coming in the game against Bristol City in mid-March.
Another creative force in Riley McGree is also still out of action, but is expected to return to training next week.
Hellberg reports no fresh issues from the game against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.
Newcastle United loanee Matt Targett, who was forced off late on, is in the mix to feature against the Hornets.