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." Explore more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds