Kim Hellberg explains Connor Barron’s Middlesbrough situation after Rangers concern

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has praised Connor Barron’s attitude in training, insisting the midfielder has done everything possible to earn his opportunity despite his lack of playing time since arriving from Rangers.

Barron joined Boro on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day but is still waiting to make his debut for the Championship side.

The Scottish midfielder was initially left out of the matchday squad for several games before earning a place on the bench following the international break. However, he has remained an unused substitute in all three matches since then.

His situation has raised concerns at Rangers, with former manager Barry Ferguson recently questioning why Middlesbrough signed the midfielder if they were not going to give him opportunities on the pitch.

Hellberg, however, has made it clear that Barron’s absence from the team is not a reflection of poor performances in training. The Middlesbrough boss says he has been impressed with the midfielder’s application and believes circumstances, including competition for places, have played a part in his lack of minutes.

Forward Leo Castledine has also struggled to get opportunities recently, and Hellberg has encouraged both players to remain patient and continue working hard until their chance arrives.

“My job is not to give people things or be kind,” Hellberg said.

“You have to measure things all the time. Sometimes it’s down to competition, sometimes it’s down to the performance, how they train and all those things.

“For both Connor and Leo, they’ve done a lot of good things lately on the training ground and sometimes for a player it can be down to a little bit of luck. Both of them are doing everything they can on the ground.”

The Boro boss acknowledged that selecting a team is a difficult balancing act, with decisions often depending on performances, competition and the needs of the squad.

He urged players who are struggling for minutes not to become discouraged, pointing to Neto Borges as an example of someone who benefited from remaining patient and working hard.

“For everyone, the message is just to keep going. The chance will come if you work hard and the difficult thing for players when you don’t get the minutes is to keep working hard,” Hellberg added.

“There was no-one thinking Neto [Borges] should play a game here and now look at him. It’s important, in tough times, to keep working and take your chance when you get it.”

Ferguson, meanwhile, believes Barron needs regular football at this stage of his career and admitted he was surprised by the midfielder’s lack of involvement at Middlesbrough.

Speaking on the 5 Stars Podcast, the former Rangers manager said Barron had the quality to play and questioned the decision to send him to Boro if he was not going to feature.

He suggested Rangers may need to consider bringing the midfielder back and arranging another loan move if his situation does not improve.

“He is good enough to play. Wee Connor, in my opinion, is a really good player. He is at an age where he needs to play every single week,” Ferguson said.

“If he is not going to get any game time – which I am surprised at Middlesbrough, why would they take him if they are not going to play him? – you would need to bring him back and maybe try to get him another loan. But, I am surprised he has not played any minutes at all.”

Barron will now hope to turn his encouraging work on the training ground into an opportunity to make his first appearance for Middlesbrough as the season continues.