Lankshear full of praise for Hellberg

Middlesbrough's new striker Will Lankshear said he has learned more in a week under head coach Kim Hellberg than he has in his entire football career previously.

>The 21-year-old signed from Tottenham two weeks ago after spending last season on loan at Oxford United, where he scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 44 Championship games.

>Lankshear played his first game for what he described as an "amazing, brilliant and massive" club in a 3-3 pre-season friendly draw with Espanyol on Saturday.

>Hellberg praised Lankshear after the match and said: "Will as a nine is absolutely brilliant, he's mobile, he can do almost anything."

>And Lankshear has now returned the compliment to Hellberg.

>"It's been a great week so far. I've learnt as much as I have my whole life in one week under Kim [Hellberg]," Lankshear told BBC Radio Tees.

>"It's really, really good. I'm really excited. We play some really nice football and that's all on the manager."

>Boro have also brought in Kyle Joseph from Hull City to strengthen their attack and Lankshear said he is embracing the challenge of competing for the number nine shirt.

>"Competition is everything. You need a big squad if you want to achieve the things that we want to achieve," he added.

>"Kyle Joseph is a great forward. He can play across the front line. We can play together as well. So I'm really excited to work with him.

>"And if it is one of us, then I'll be supporting. If not, I want to be giving my absolute all and scoring goals myself. I'm sure it'll work together.

>"I'm going to come and give it my absolute all in every single game and I'm going to try and score like I always do and see where it takes me. I'm confident enough in my ability that I will score goals."

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