Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg is being considered to succeed Pierre Sage as Crystal Palace manager, as the Premier League’s bottom club considers a big managerial choice during the international break.

Borough enter the November break having been knocked off their perch atop the Championship table by Birmingham City, who lead them only on goal difference and have an identical record after 15 games.

That’s due to a couple of bad outcomes in the final week of the recent block of fixtures, including failing to score in a midweek defeat at Wrexham and then drawing 0-0 with Watford on Saturday.

It has raised some concerns about Middlesbrough’s current squad, particularly with leading scorer Will Lankshear missing both games, but it does not detract from the excellent job Hellberg has done at the Riverside since taking over from Rob Edwards last November, and Premier League clubs are beginning to recognise this.

Kim Hellberg sounded out as a probable Crystal Palace candidate as Pierre Sage approached the exit door.

Following their 3-1 defeat at Selhurst Park to Liverpool, several sources suggest that Palace manager Pierre Sage is going to be fired, with the Eagles sitting rock bottom after ten games.

With this being the first top-flight firing discussion of the season, it’s always interesting to watch which Championship managers are mentioned as potential candidates for the mid-season promotion.

According to Sky Sports, Borough manager Kim Hellberg is among the options, as is Swansea City manager Vitor Matos, though the latter’s reports have been about for a few weeks.

That being said, it appears doubtful that Crystal Palace will pursue Hellberg, as the Swede is one of seven head coaches identified by Sky. Thomas Frank, the former Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur manager, is said to be the main candidate.

The mention of Middlesbrough’s manager suggests that he is one of the leading Championship coaches who could be ready to make the step up, and if not on this occasion, the Swede’s name may be referenced more frequently as the top-flight sacking season progresses.

Kim Hellberg is demonstrating Premier League potential in the dugout at Middlesbrough.

It’s hardly surprising that Hellberg is being considered as a potential replacement for under-fire Premier League managers, given the impact he’s had on Middlesbrough in the last year, which is unlike anything seen in the second division.

Borough have been one of the best-coached teams in the Championship over the previous year, and it’s almost commonly believed that their struggles near the end of last season were primarily due to a lack of clinical edge in both boxes, rather than how they were set up.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg is being considered to succeed Pierre Sage as Crystal Palace manager, as the Premier League’s bottom club considers a big managerial choice during the international break.

Borough enter the November break having been knocked off their perch atop the Championship table by Birmingham City, who lead them only on goal difference and have an identical record after 15 games.

That’s due to a couple of bad outcomes in the final week of the recent block of fixtures, including failing to score in a midweek defeat at Wrexham and then drawing 0-0 with Watford on Saturday.

It has raised some concerns about Middlesbrough’s current squad, particularly with leading scorer Will Lankshear missing both games, but it does not detract from the excellent job Hellberg has done at the Riverside since taking over from Rob Edwards last November, and Premier League clubs are beginning to recognise this.

Kim Hellberg sounded out as a probable Crystal Palace candidate as Pierre Sage approached the exit door.
Kim Hellberg, Middlesbrough – Action Images.
Following their 3-1 defeat at Selhurst Park to Liverpool, several sources suggest that Palace manager Pierre Sage is going to be fired, with the Eagles sitting rock bottom after ten games.

With this being the first top-flight firing discussion of the season, it’s always interesting to watch which Championship managers are mentioned as potential candidates for the mid-season promotion.

According to Sky Sports, Borough manager Kim Hellberg is among the options, as is Swansea City manager Vitor Matos, though the latter’s reports have been about for a few weeks.

Even during this little dry stretch without Lankshear leading the line, one might argue that, particularly in the Watford draw, they created enough opportunities to win numerous games of football. That is ultimately not the coach’s responsibility.

It was only a matter of time before Hellberg was connected with a top-flight job, given he is currently one of England’s most promising young head coaches. Borough fans will hope he can make it to the Premier League with them rather than elsewhere.

To keep Kim Hellberg at the club, Middlesbrough almost had to get promoted this season.

The longer Middlesbrough perform well with Hellberg at the helm, the more he will be mentioned in discussions about managerial positions higher up the pyramid.

If an outfielder demonstrates Premier League talent, there will almost certainly be pressure on them to make the step up. However, if Borough is in the top flight, the burden will be relieved.

The commencement of these conversations suggests that the Teessiders may be in a race against the clock to get into the Premier League with Hellberg, or else they will confront the Swedish manager demonstrating his abilities in another top-flight dugout.

At the present, they appear to be decent value for doing so, but with the current top six separated by only three points, this Championship championship fight appears too close to call just 15 games into the season.