KIM HELLBERG has been an instant hit with Middlesbrough's players who "love" their new head coach, says goal hero Morgan Whittaker.

It was Whittaker's late strike that secured Hellberg a victory in his first game in charge at home to Derby County on Saturday.

Hellberg only oversaw two training sessions before taking charge of his first game, but Whittaker has been enormously impressed by how quickly the 37-year-old has realised what he does and doesn't want to change.

"He knows our strengths and what we're good at, and he's not taken that away from us," says Whittaker.

"He knows we're really good in possession and he's not wanted to change how we play with the ball. I think it's just little changes without the ball.

"He's been really good on being free-flowing, especially with the att

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