Wrexham v Middlesbrough FC: Kim Hellberg on Will Lankshear England talk and Riley McGree praise

That was back on August 7 in the EFL's curtain raiser to the season, when the Red Dragons visited the Riverside Stadium for a first-round Carabao Cup fixture.

Just after the hour mark, Lankshear settled the issue on his debut with a technically exquisite hooked volley. A televised audience and not just those present on Teesside watched on in admiration.

'Middlesbrough get their first glimpse of a striker who could be a hero in waiting' were the prescient words by the Sky Sports commentator.

Just under three months on, the 21-year-old remains the talk of the Championship in many respects ahead of Boro's first league meeting with Wrexham in 2026-27.

Lankshear has scored 15 times in 16 appearances for Boro in league and cup. The former Tottenham Hotspur frontman, who had a spell earlier in his career at Sheffield United, has scored in his last five successive fixtures since the last international break - netting on seven occasions.

His 13 Championship goals have arrived in 13 league appearances, the best record for any Boro player at the start of a season since the legendary George Camsell in 1926.

Speak to the forward, who arrived for an initial £10m in the summer—and he will be quick to remind people that his tally so far this term is 16 and not 15. Lankshear also scored for England under-21s in their September fixture against Kazakhstan.

His feats have even led to some talk about a possible maiden senior call-up. That is surely one for the future as opposed to the present, but the fact that it is being talked about is significant.

Sensibly, Boro chief Kim Hellberg is circumspect regarding such conjecture and rightly so.

Last season, there was plenty of gushing talk about the prowess of the player wearing the number seven shirt currently worn by Lankshear in Hayden Hackney. His season would ultimately end in tears of frustration.

Asked about the prospect of a full call-up, Hellberg, very much wearing his manager’s hat - his high-fliers are seeking to extend their unbeaten league sequence to 12 games this evening - said: "No, it would be better if he was playing with us and training with us, to be very frank. I'm going to be honest…

"So, that's my answer. Then, of course, for him, everyone wants to play for the country and everyone is happy with that.

"We take a lot of pride in our football club if they are involved in the under-21s or the senior team or whatever it is for their country, and we know that's a big thing for the players and they work very hard every day to be there.

"I think that's also one thing that's been seen, that we have more call-ups this year than last year, because we are in a good position and we have a lot of good players. We will see and that's the same thing with all the players."

One player who is likely to be on international duty next month is key Australian midfielder Riley McGree.

It had been expected that the creative force would also be on Socceroos business at the Asian Cup, which was scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in January and early February. But it has been postponed because of a series of terrorist attacks on the host country and has been rescheduled for December 2027.

Amid a key period, McGree's availability would be welcome from a Boro perspective. The 28-year-old has already started over half of the league games that he managed in 2025-26.

On McGree, who has started 10 of Boro's 13 league games thus far, Hellberg commented: "I think Riley is an absolutely perfect player for us in how he plays.

"He has so much quality in finding spaces to connect with other players and he's involved in a lot of good things. Often when you watch the game after, you see so many good movements that are off the ball, where he opens up space for people and understands the game in a brilliant way.

"I'm very happy with the amount of game time he has been having on a high level. You still need to manage and balance things, but that goes for everyone.

"But I think he's taken big steps to play even more and it's a case of of just keep going, improving and working hard with that. Everyone wants him on the pitch as much as possible."

McGree and Boro are in a good place. That extends to off the pitch with head of football Kieran Scott and recruitment supremo Chris Jones signing new long-term deals this week. Paul Watson has arrived from Brentford as chief technical officer.

Hellberg added: "They have done a brilliant job. We talked about signing players and getting them here. The recruitment, how we work with players and all those things is a key thing."