Middlesbrough Vs Leicester City: Hellberg weighs one change after Oxford draw

The build-up to middlesbrough vs leicester city centres on Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg aiming to help his side get back to winning ways on Tuesday evening after frustrating results in their last two. The manager must decide whether to react to recent setbacks or manage minutes carefully as the club prepares for Leicester's visit to the Riverside.

Hellberg’s selection dilemma after the Oxford draw

Hellberg made three changes following the defeat to Coventry City last Monday, but the newly-introduced players were unable to influence the win Boro wanted against Oxford United, with a frustrating draw the end result. Now, with no new players back for the game, Hellberg will be debating whether to restore any of the three players he took out of the side for the Oxford game, mindful that his decision involves more factors than simply reacting to a loss.

Middlesbrough Vs Leicester City: predicted Riverside lineup

Questions remain over whether Dael Fry, Jeremy Sarmiento or David Strelec will retain their places. Below is the predicted Boro starting XI for the Riverside when Leicester visit, followed by the context behind each pick:

• GK - Sol Brynn - Saturday was frustrating for most, but it was a milestone for Brynn, who collected his tenth clean sheet of the season. That mark reflects how well he has handled his breakthrough year.
• DR - Callum Brittain - Brittain was one of Boro’s most successful attacking outlets against Oxford, with the team finding him regularly as he dashed to the byline. When there, Boro need Brittain to find that killer pass.
• DC - Dael Fry - The prediction backs Fry to stay in the side, having been one of the three changes against Oxford that worked. That will depend on his capability of playing a second game so soon after Saturday; he has had injury troubles in recent years and Hellberg has spoken a lot about managing minutes.
• DC - Adilson Malanda - Providing he’s fit, Malanda must be one of the more obvious starters right now. His introduction to English football has been superb, displaying a consistent level that looks more than capable of stepping up to the Premier League.
• DL - Matt Targett - While Targett isn’t always the most attacking outlet for Boro, he rarely lets them down. He has the technical ability on the ball to contribute in possession and he offers balance out of possession, which allows Brittain to be more aggressive going forward.
• CM - Aidan Morris - Morris continues to prove influential in Hellberg’s setup, even if he doesn’t always do the things that attract the headlines. He and Hackney work so well together.
• CM - Hayden Hackney - There are now 13 games remaining and, injury aside, like Malanda, Hackney will be almost certain to start every single one of them. His quality makes him so important.
• RW - Morgan Whittaker - He remains Boro’s top scorer with 11 goals, but it is now four games without a goal. He was underwhelming again in the Oxford draw, which opens the argument that Jeremy Sarmiento should keep his place alongside the returning Riley McGree. Given Whittaker’s ability to score, however, it is hard to see Hellberg dropping him just yet.
• LW - Riley McGree - Rested on Saturday, Hellberg admitted that he would love to have McGree play 90 minutes every game, but that isn’t possible. Having rested him on Saturday, expect him to be back in the side against Leicester.
• ST - Tommy Conway - The goals still aren’t coming as regularly as he would like, but he remains a valuable player in this Kim Hellberg system - heavily involved in an

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Minutes management and fitness concerns

Dael Fry’s selection hinges on fitness and the ability to play a second game so soon after Saturday. Fry’s recent injury troubles and Hellberg’s comments about managing minutes are central to the selection debate. Malanda’s fitness is also a factor, but his form since arriving in English football makes him an obvious starter if available.

Form notes and tactical trade-offs

The Oxford draw underlined that the three changes made after the Coventry defeat did not have the desired impact. Morgan Whittaker’s scoring drought and underwhelming showing in that draw create a selection tension with Jeremy Sarmiento, while Riley McGree’s rest on Saturday suggests he is likely to return. Hellberg’s choices will need to balance short-term reaction with longer-term management across the remaining run of fixtures.

Matchday context and fan guidance

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg thanked the fans at the end of the match. Supporters were reminded to follow the club’s dedicated Facebook page for the latest team updates. The manager and squad now shift focus to middlesbrough vs leicester city at the Riverside, where selection and fitness calls will shape Boro’s hopes of returning to winning ways.