Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has confirmed he expects striker David Strelec to stay at the club after the summer transfer window closes. Hellberg made the admission following his side's 3-1 Carabao Cup second round victory away at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night, a win that avenged a heavy defeat from last season's competition. The Slovakian international came off the bench in the final minutes of the match, which was secured by goals from Kyle Joseph, Will Lankshear, and Jeremy Sarmiento.
What did Kim Hellberg say about David Strelec?
Kim Hellberg was clear about his plans for the forward. "I see David here," Hellberg told the Hartlepool Mail. "I think David is a brilliant footballer, and I hope he is here. That is the only thing I am thinking about now." This statement directly addresses speculation linking the 39-cap Slovakia international with a move to Greek side PAOK Salonika. Strelec joined Boro in a £6m deal from Slovan Bratislava in September 2025 and was a regular feature during Hellberg's early months in charge, contributing eight goals and one assist in 36 appearances.
How did Middlesbrough perform at Doncaster?
The cup win provided a positive response after Boro's opening Championship results, which see them 11th with three points from two games. Hellberg praised his team's overall display at the Eco-Power Stadium. "It was a little bit of a shaky start in the first ten or 12 minutes, but then I thought we were quite good and created a lot of chances," he said. "We talked about a lot of things after the last game, we tried to play forward more with the free man." He did concede some disappointment at conceding a late goal, feeling a clean sheet was missed, but highlighted the positives of scoring three times and progressing. The victory sends Middlesbrough into Wednesday night's third round draw.
Where does this leave Middlesbrough's season?
The cup progress offers a boost as the Championship campaign intensifies. Boro's league form reads one win and one loss, leaving them three points behind early leaders Millwall. They have scored three and conceded three across those two matches, with Will Lankshear emerging as the early top scorer with two goals. The immediate focus now shifts to a crucial league fixture at home to West Bromwich Albion this Saturday. West Brom currently sit second in the table, making it a significant early test. You can view the full schedule on our fixtures page.
What is David Strelec's role going forward?
Hellberg's comments suggest Strelec remains part of his plans for the attacking unit. With Lankshear in scoring form and other options competing for places, Strelec's experience and profile provide depth. His future had been subject to rumour, but the head coach's firm stance indicates a desire for stability as the window nears its end. Retaining the striker could be important for squad balance, especially with a busy period of Championship and cup football ahead. The current squad's attacking statistics are available on our stats page.
Boro will hope the confidence from the cup win translates into a positive result against high-flying West Brom. Securing three points at the Riverside would provide momentum and improve their standing in a tightly packed early table, which you can follow on our standings page. Hellberg's squad must now build on this performance as they look to climb from their mid-table position.
