Hellberg relishing extended international break, tell me about this news in (https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cmly4gl3plvyo)
17-09-2026
In the BBC Sport article, Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg discusses why he welcomes the upcoming three-week international break for Championship clubs.
Key points from the report:
• Purpose of the break: Hellberg believes the extended hiatus will benefit the overall quality of the Championship and give newly arrived players necessary time to adapt and build fitness.
• Demanding schedule: Middlesbrough played 10 league and cup fixtures since starting their campaign on August 7, experiencing four consecutive weeks with midweek fixtures. Hellberg noted that frequent matches and constant travel made it difficult for new signings to integrate and prove themselves in training.
• Upcoming timeline: Following their fixture against Birmingham at St Andrew’s, Boro will not play another competitive match until hosting Wolves on October 10.
• Current standings and outlook: Middlesbrough sit third in the table with a chance to reach the summit with a positive result against Birmingham. Hellberg views the extended break as an opportunity to regroup, improve squad conditioning, and strengthen their promotion push ahead of the demanding winter schedule.