The latest news from Middlesbrough as Kim Hellberg’s side target promotion into the Premier League.
Middlesbrough have agreed a new one-year deal with former Leeds United defender Luke Ayling and handed a major boost to head coach Kim Hellberg ahead of the final push for promotion into the Premier League.
The 34-year-old has become an integral figure at the Riverside Stadium since joining Middlesbrough on a free transfer during the summer of 2024 after a successful loan spell on Teesside. Since then, Ayling has made 85 appearances for Boro and has been a regular in the side throughout Hellberg’s reign as the Swede looks to mount successful bid for promotion into the top flight to round off a memorable first season in charge.
Tying down Ayling’s future has always been near the top of the list of priorities for Hellberg and that agreement has now been found as the versatile defender has quickly set his focus on taking the club ‘back to where it should be’ between now and the end of the season.
He told the club website: “I’m absolutely delighted. Last season wasn’t great for me, and I wanted to show people I could still play at this level, and I’ve enjoyed this season. We’re all trying to get this club back where it should be. It’s been a great season so far. We’ve seven games left – the fans have a massive part to play as well – and we want to make those seven games special.”
Boro star targets World Cup spot
Conway has been in good form for club side Middlesbrough this season.placeholder image
Conway has been in good form for club side Middlesbrough this season. | Getty Images
Middlesbrough star Tommy Conway has firmly set his sights on securing a place in Scotland’s squad for this summer’s World Cup finals after being handed only his second start at international level in a weekend friendly defeat against Japan.
The Boro forward earned his seventh cap at Hampden Park as a Junya Ito goal separated the two sides - and Conway and his team-mates will now hope to bounce back when they face the Ivory Coast on Tuesday night. The former Bristol City man insisted his side should ‘take the postives’ from their weekend loss and is hoping to ‘make an impact’ in a bid to secure a spot in the Scotland squad for the World Cup finals.
Speaking after the game, the Boro star said: "I really enjoyed it out there. Felt like it took a while for me to get into the game, but once we got to grips with it, I felt like I naturally got into the game. We were unfortunate to lose, but we'll take the positive from it and we'll focus on Tuesday.It's just about trying to acclimatise to the team on the pitch. Obviously, it's been a while since I've played for Scotland, so I'm trying to learn in training and I'd like to think I took it into the game and what we've been working on in training. So, going into the summer, hopefully I can make it and keep making an impact."
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