Sontje Hansen’s absence from Middlesbrough’s EFL Cup first-round win against Wrexham was due to boosting his fitness with the Under-21s after taking a long vacation following the World Cup, according to head coach Kim Hellberg.

Borough defeated their fellow Championship heavyweights on Friday night in what was, on paper, one of the Carabao Cup’s most thrilling first-round matchups.

Will Lankshear scored the sole goal on his debut, assisted by fellow debutant Sebastian Berhalter, to knock Phil Parkinson’s side out, setting up a meeting with Doncaster Rovers, who eliminated Middlesbrough last season, in a few weeks.

A lot of Kim Hellberg’s attacking talent was on display at the Riverside, but one noteworthy absentee was Curacao international Hansen, who struggled to make an impact in his maiden season with the Teesiders last year.

Kim Hellberg discusses Sontje Hansen’s absence versus Wrexham.

However, Borough manager Hellberg indicated after the game that the 24-year-old’s omission from the team on Friday was not related to an impending transfer, but rather to the coaching staff’s belief that a game with the Under-21s would have been more beneficial to strengthening his fitness.

Hansen spent the summer with the Curacao National Team in the World Cup, playing 45 minutes in their first group game against Germany before being an unused substitute in the next two.

As a result, the wideman returned to Middlesbrough training a bit later than the rest of his colleagues, and Hellberg believed that a full game for the Under-21s would be preferable than a cameo bench appearance against Wrexham.

“Sontje was not involved, but there was no injury or anything like that,” the Swedish manager said, citing the Northern Echo. “He played a game [for the Under-21s] because we looked at his physics.”We had to do everything we could for everyone because we were still in the pre-season, so we wanted to get the most out of the weekend. There were other options, and he is ready to leave next week.

“He is here, and he is training. He returned late due to the World Cup, therefore he is a touch behind in his physics and fitness.

That’s why, jointly, we decided to try to play roughly 90 minutes in the Under-21s rather than maybe five [against Wrexham].

Sontje Hansen is still linked with the Middlesbrough exodus.

Hansen may be fit to play, but the Curacao international is unlikely to see much action at the Riverside this season.

The 24-year-old joined from Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen last summer after scoring 10 goals in straight seasons in the Dutch top flight, but failed to adjust to the Championship in his first season.

Last year, Hansen appeared in 20 games across all competitions, but only four of those were as a starter. He came on as a substitute in both the play-off semi-final second leg and the final.

Sontje Hansen participated in the Championship last season.

Games played

17

Games started.

4

Minutes played

491

Goals

With Kyle Joseph, Leo Castledine, and Jeremy Sarmiento anticipated to improve their roles, Hansen’s chances of making the starting lineup at the Riverside are limited.

According to the Northern Echo, Middlesbrough are open to consider any bids for the wideman that come in. For the time being, however, Kim Hellberg appears to be content with keeping him as a squad option.

Middlesbrough fans’ reactions to Sontje Hansen’s Wrexham absence

Not every acquisition is a success, and Middlesbrough fans are content to let Hansen go after only a year at the Riverside.

There are still some online comments expressing support for the 24-year-old in response to his absence from the Wrexham game and the fact that Borough are open to his departure, but it’s virtually universally agreed that Hansen’s future lies elsewhere.

“He looked devoid of confidence from day one,” one admirer wrote on X.

In response to someone criticising about Borough “taking chances on players like this only to damage their confidence and lose money in the process,” a fan responded, “To be honest, we’ve taken a fair few chances on players under the new model and made money. This is why we tend to have a go during the summer windows; not every signing will be successful.”

Hansen will not be in the same league as Emmanuel Latte Lath or Chuba Akpom anytime soon, but Borough fans are still pleased with their transfer strategy. Not every signing is a success, and the 24-year-old has been anything but.