GIVEN Middlesbrough's extensive - and head-turning - summer recruitment so far, a transitional period is perhaps to be expected early on in 2026-27.

Kim Hellberg is wise to that school of thought. Speaking of the transition, he is also mindful of getting the balance right with his starting line-up.

Boro have an embarrassment of riches compared to a number of their second-tier rivals when it comes to attacking options.

One, in the shape of Tommy Conway, is yet to feature this season due to injury - he is expected return soon - while the arrival of another attack-minded midfielder in Rokas Pukštas is set to add to their offensive numbers.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg, pictured in the EFL Cup tie against Doncaster Rovers. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

placeholder image — Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg, pictured in the EFL Cup tie against Doncaster Rovers. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Boro also want another wing option ahead of the deadline. They have been linked with Amario Cozier-Duberry and Jack Clarke among others.

Attacking is one thing - leaving yourself open in transition is another. It's something that Boro were guilty of in the loss at Blackburn last weekend.

Doncaster Rovers also caused them issues early in their EFL Cup tie in midweek. Grant McCann successfully replicated the tactics of Rovers chief Tony Mowbray, who was happy to cede possession to Boro and devised an astute game plan to hit them on the break.

For the second successive Saturday, Boro face a side managed by another ex-player in James Morrison, whose Albion side have posted breakaway threats in an impressive start to the campaign.

Middlesbrough's Tommy Conway celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Sky Bet Championship match at the Swansea.com Stadium. Picture date: Monday April 6, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire.

Hellberg said: "It's a combination of being more comfortable in our roles, patterns, playing and more comfortable in how you work in your positions to stop them (breaks) from happening.

"And then it comes down to the individual quality of being good enough in stopping those things. It's a lot of different areas to improve.

"If you look at the first minutes against Doncaster, we handed them the ball and then it's always going to be difficult; you cannot prepare for that.

"You are always going to be challenged. I think all the teams that are similar to us in the way we play—where you trust in your own abilities - every one of those teams gets asked the same question. How do you handle transitions, because teams start to look at that.

"It's always a challenge and always will be when you are an offensive-minded team and we need to improve different parts of that.

" It's a balance in terms of player profiles."