Middlesbrough have made a promising start to the new Championship season after losing in the play-off final.

Kim Hellberg’s side were undone by a late Oli McBurnie goal, missing out on a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

However, the Teessiders have won six of their first ten games, losing only once, and appear potential of another promotion push this season.

However, things have not been easy at the Riverside, and the club is now faced with a major dilemma involving Rangers loanee Connor Barron.

Connor Barron’s lack of game time at Middlesbrough

Barron moved to the Riverside on deadline day from Rangers after sliding down the pecking order at Ibrox.

He was brought in to strengthen Hellberg’s midfield options, with the expectation that his defensive abilities would aid the team’s promotion campaign.

But, despite the fact that October is halfway over, the 24-year-old has yet to kick a ball for the Championship team.

He was just added to the first-team squad after the international break for the 1-0 win against Wolves, and he also appeared on the bench for the 3-2 triumph over Stoke City in midweek.

Barry Ferguson’s warning for Middlesbrough

Barry Ferguson urged Rangers to move against Borough by recalling Barron from his loan at the earliest opportunity.

The ex-Rangers player expressed his dissatisfaction with his lack of playing time and suggested he should be loaned out to other teams to gain regular playing time.”He hasn’t kicked a ball or sat on the bench,” Ferguson stated on the 5 Stars podcast.

“You would need to bring him back, and listen, if he’s not going to be part of the plans he needs to go somewhere to play.””He is talented enough to play.””I think Wee Connor is a great player.””At his age, he must play weekly.”If Middlesbrough does not play him, it may be necessary to bring him back or seek another loan opportunity.But I’m astonished he’s not played any minutes at all.”

These statements should not go overlooked at Middlesbrough, as they bring Barron’s position on the team into focus.

If Borough want to keep the midfielder for the rest of the season, they must begin giving him game time, since Rangers will not be patient on this matter, especially with voices like Ferguson publicly criticising the situation.

Kim Hellberg sees no reason to alter.

Sebastian Berhalter and Aidan Morris have created a good midfield partnership for Hellberg’s team in the first ten games.

Given that the former is a recent signing who replaced the departing Hayden Hackney, he has fitted in seamlessly.

Sebastian Berhalter’s midfield stats 2026/27 – according to Fotmob.com

Stat

Per 90

Successful passes.

39.85

Pass Completion Rate (%)

83.0

Accurate long balls

2.24

Accurate Long Balls (%)

45.9

Chances created

2.51

Big opportunities created.

2.77

Successful crossovers

2.53

Successful crossovers (%)

33.3

The American has generated 2.77 chances per 90 minutes and completed 2.51 line-breaking passes, making him one of the most dangerous midfielders in the Championship so far this season (all figures from FotMob).

Morris has given a strong defensive foundation alongside Berhalter, completing 3.89 tackles and 1.00 interceptions per 90, for a total of 6.44 defensive contributions per game.

This duo will be difficult to break up under normal circumstances, so Barron will have to wait for an injury or a heavily rotated pick to come on the field.

Middlesbrough still needs midfield depth.

While Barron is unlikely to make it into the starting lineup, Hellberg should give him some bench time in the near future.

Middlesbrough cannot trust on Berhalter and Morris to start every game and play every minute, so they will need backup like Barron over the course of a 46-game season.

If Hellberg continues to leave him on the bench, the club should not be surprised if he gets called up in January.

And if that’s the case, the Championship club will need to plan their next transfer ahead of time, as a lack of depth could pose a significant hurdle in their promotion quest.