The irony of Morgan Whittaker’s Middlesbrough form as Kim Hellberg reveals main focus.

Morgan Whittaker has six goals in six games for Middlesbrough.

Morgan Whittaker is in top form for Middlesbrough right now, but the wonderful irony is that his defending is something manager Kim Hellberg is always talking to him about.

Whittaker resumed his goal-scoring streak, scoring in his sixth consecutive game to help Boro defeat QPR at the Riverside on Saturday.

If Whittaker scores at Bristol City on Saturday, he will become the first Boro player since Brian Clough to score in seven straight games in the same season, with the exception of Emmanuel Latte Lath, who did it in the first game of the previous season.

Hellberg has put in a lot of effort to ensure that his forward players are playing in a system and style that allows them to perform to their full potential, and it is clearly paying off.

But the great irony is that whenever Hellberg has the opportunity to speak with his in-form forward, he constantly emphasises the defensive aspect of his game.

Despite all of the goals, Hellberg claims there is one aspect of Whittaker that has particularly thrilled him since taking over for Rob Edwards.

But the great irony is that whenever Hellberg has the opportunity to speak with his in-form forward, he constantly emphasises the defensive aspect of his game.

Despite all of the goals, Hellberg claims there is one aspect of Whittaker that has particularly thrilled him since taking over for Rob Edwards.

During those one-on-one chats, Hellberg explained, “We, of course, work on the attacking part in terms of tactical analysis.” But when I chat to him before games in those five seconds, I’m always harping on his defence.

“‘Keep doing that,’ ‘you’re so good at this,’ ‘you’re so good at that,’ and ‘keep defending.’ He can take that left back away with no issue. If he defends against him, he will have an opportunity.

“It’s just the brief conversation in between that is more related to those topics. I’m really amazed by Charlton’s reaction on the goal; he loses the ball, responds, and Britts wins the ball, allowing us to counter from there. He had some good balls today [against QPR].”

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