Middlesbrough v Norwich: Kim Hellberg's concern as Boro chase striker - plus praise for 'unbelievable' David Strelec
WITH just a few days to go before the transfer window closes, talk of Middlesbrough bringing in a marquee striker to add the final piece of the jigsaw to their strong promotion pitch has become incessant.
Boro have been strongly tipped to make a pre-deadline move for Southampton marksman Adam Armstrong, with the 29-year-old understood to be keen to return to the north-east. Hamburg frontman Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer is another player who Boro have been linked with.
Armstrong is likely to demand a major fee, with Wrexham are also in the hunt for the Geordie.
For his part, head coach Kim Hellberg - eyeing three points against an in-form Norwich City side to guild his 38th birthday celebrations on Sunday - is also conscious of what he has got and also not upsetting the team’s ‘balance’, alongside his desire to add another option.
He said: "If you look at the numbers I am looking at, there's no team that creates as many chances as us over the last 12 games.
"If you look over the season, I think we are 12th or something. The change in creating chances is unbelievable and that's the thing, the same players working hard and developing. They have been unbelievable.
"That's why it's so important not to break the flow. We have put a lot of trust in them and they have answered that by training so hard, listening to everything and developing.
"It's also that balance again. That is the $100million question in terms of finding the right balance. A good player can help us, the squad, everyone. Of course, we want them, but everyone you also bring in can change the dynamic. The key question is doing the perfect thing for Middlesbrough."
One striker back in the equation following injury is big summer recruit David Strelec, who could be involved from the bench.
Hellberg added: "I like the player so much from the beginning.
"I think he has everything. I think he's had an absolutely brilliant (training) week, but it's not fair to put pressure on him - as he's just back after an injury - to go directly in.
"But his week has been brilliant from where he has come from - not training at all to then doing one week.
"He's such a good guy and talented guy. He's going to be a top striker and it's just a matter of time to come back, of course.
"I see everything you want in a 'nine'. He's an unbelievable player."