THE Hell-ball era begins at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but Middlesbrough's new head coach has admitted that seeing a side truly in his own image will take time.

Kim Hellberg steps out as Boro boss for the first time against Derby County. Given that he is the early stages of developing relationships with his players, the Swede, who took training for the first time on Wednesday night, sensibly will not be overloading them too much with fresh tactical and technical information and the changes he wants to implement will be gradual.

Hellberg's playing style is described as fast and aggressive with a desire for his teams to win the ball back as quickly as possible, while also being possession-based.

It will be interesting to see how things pan out, with Boro, under Rob Edwards, deviating from the possession for possession's sake mantra of Michael Carrick.

Kim Hellberg gets his point across to Middlesbrough players at his first training session on Wednesday. Picture: Tom Banks/MFC

placeholder image — Kim Hellberg gets his point across to Middlesbrough players at his first training session on Wednesday. Picture: Tom Banks/MFC

Hellberg has seen plenty to like about the players he has inherited and tweaks are only likely to come in time.

He said: "I think it is a very good squad with a lot of good players and I think they have shown the character and energy and that's the main thing.

"They want to get better and train very hard and everyone that I have talked to have explained that the group is a hard-working one and a good group.

"I think there's a lot of quality in here, but then again, it's impossible to switch over in one or two days, that's not how it works.

New Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg (left), pictured with assistant Adi Viveash. Picture: Tom Banks/MFC

"We need to start working towards that, but I must say that my first impressions on the players is that they are very, very good."

The presence of assistant Adi Viveash has provided continuity from Edwards' short spell at the club, with the 56-year-old having earned the respect of everyone connected with the club for the way he has steadied the ship following the shock exit of Edwards.

Reiterating Viveash's importance going forward, Hellberg, who has brought in long-term assistant David Sellini as his number two, commented: "He's very important. I think he has done brilliantly.

He's a very good person and leader and I can learn a lot from him and I am going to try to get as much knowledge out of him as possible, so I am very happy that he's here.

"And I think it will be perfect to work with him and together with him and I am very happy that he's here."