@powmillnaemore. That's a good question, with the two previous wide men not available.
For this match and no straight replacements, 3 at the back as the second half against WBA would be a safe choice?
Of course he may just start with Joseph and use him for 60 minutes, then Conway if he is up to it. He could also use Arfsten as a direct replacement for MW. Mmmm?
Though I should point out those 19 goals for Whittaker came in 2023-24 for Plymouth and in his first season at Boro (from January 2025) he scored no goals and managed just one assist. Indeed, his first goal for Boro came the following campaign on the 10th game of the season - he had a golden spell in Nov-Dec, scoring in six successive games and had a decent January with 3 goals and 2 assists - but other than those two spells he hasn't really done that much in his other 20 months at Boro.
I wonder if Hellberg may start with Arfsten as he looked quite lively last time on the right - though Joseph has played on the right and could be an option if Conway is fit enough for 30 minutes later on. Did we say Pukstas wasn't available?
NEW SIGNINGS
So based on the info from JARKKO, Boro have spent well over £30 million which is mostly financed from the sales of Hackney and Whittaker.
Looks like good business to me. I’m thinking that the much larger financial add ons will be triggered by getting promoted which should be affordable with the additional Premiership income.
Looking at the list of new players I can see as many as 7 being regular starters and so Boro almost have a new team. Getting them to play successfully together in the manner the coaches want must be a real challenge and won’t instantly happen although the really talented players will take it in their stride.
Hopefully tonight can be the start of a new adventure.
Philip of Huddersfield 🤔👍🤔
@martin-bellamy re MW, I agree your every word.
I think it is good business to have off loaded him at the earliest opportunity.
I am with you both on that, especially if the 10m is correct
@philip-of-huddersfield - not forgetting the Brucie bonus from Rogers and iirc Spence as well.
Probably the best transfer window we have seen for a while with the only concern being the number of players that need to bed in and in some cases get match fit.
It is now incumbent on KH to manage and select the team in the best way possible to get the maximum benefit and repay the faith that SG has put in him.
I know we said this time last year that that season was the best opportunity to go up and despite all the issues, we almost made it. Arguably we should have done without needing the play offs.
However, although this season is going to be tough, I am of the view that it is SGs last throw of the dice and he has, hopefully, given KH the players to do so.
Tonight will be another tough test, after the last tough test and the next tough test to come and one that, in my opinion, we have to pass of we are to prove our credentials as genuine promotion contenders.
I don’t think KH will change much from the second half team on Saturday, 3 at the back, perm any three from Phillips, Malandra, Jones, Edmundson and Ayling.
2 wing backs of Brittain/Byram and Arfsten
Morris and Berhalter
Joseph/Conway McGree
Lankshear
The bench is strong with plenty of options to come on as required.
Come on Boro show us what you can do!
UTB
@werdermouth Whittaker was top scorer for Hellberg's side last season and only two Championship players finished the campaign with more goal involvements. So the replacement (who is left-footed right winger) from Brighton must be good if we let our best goal scorer depart.
I agree that Whittaker can be very quiet most part of the game and then pop up with a goal. He made the goal for Lankshear when he hit the post with his shot on Saturday. We can also argue that Lankshear was quite invisible until he scored (twice, I must add). So the two strikers are a bit similar.
I hope the new guy, Cozier-Duberry is desent. Up the Boro!
The starting XI - Pukstas, Conway & Strelec on the bench:
No Kyle Walker in the Clarets' starting XI!
@stircrazy - well apart from Borges and not Arfstan I amazingly got that selection spot on!
CJ on Whittaker:
Not involved tonight because he's set to join Colorado Rapids. The MLS window open until the end of the day, however, so, as yet, no confirmation of that move. We're waiting for it.
The starting XI - Pukstas, Conway & Strelec on the bench:
Forgot to mention Byram - CJ on the team:
Will be interesting to see if it's a back three or Malanda into midfield. I suspect the latter, stepping up, but also being more tactically disciplined and offering defensive protection when needs be. The idea it's a back four not three/five feels strengthened by the fact it's Borges, not Arfsten.
How the attack lines up will be interesting. Could be 4-2-2-2, with Berhalter and McGree behind Joseph and Lankshear, could be 4-3-3/4-3-1-2, depending on how Joseph and McGree line up around Lankshear.
Alfie Jones makes his first Championship start since December 26th.
@martin-bellamy -I’ve given My crystal ball a good rub and it revealed 3 goals………no mention of a score though!
Raining all day in Lancashire? And that, friends, is why we moved to Yorkshire three years ago!
And we take the lead with a Morris shot!
Well who needs Whittaker when you've got Aiden Morris striking the ball like that!
And we take the lead with a Morris shot!
23rd minute, assisted by Berhalter! His very first goal for Boro! 
Well so far so good but we should have made more of the possession that we have dominated in the first half. There have been some poor touches and poor passing which has not helped our cause.
Burnley have, so far, been disappointing but they are still in it and we need another goal.
Good to see AM get his first goal with an excellent shot from outside the box.😎
@boro-beckys-dad Hit the post - has he been practising all summer?
Delighted for Aiden Morris
Well Boro passing it around quite nicely and perhaps should have gone into the break more than a goal up. Great strike from Morris and hit the post with another good strike as he tries to fill in for Whittaker. Still 1-0 is not enough and let's not forget Boro outplayed Blackburn in the first half on their last away game but Rovers came out a different team after the break. Though easy to see why Burnley have struggled this season and have been on the end of a couple of big defeats
btw thought Vitek has looked much better tonight - not to mention Ayling being back to himself too. Though McGree is pulling the strings and has looked a class act.
Tempting fate, but Burnley look lacking in confidence at the back. Another goal early in the second half would be ideal.
I second to that, too.Delighted for Aiden Morris
Well done Boro so far. Still 45 min to go. Up the Boro!
On the somewhat negative side, Lanky Will was booked in the 39th minute - CJ:
Ball got away from him and he lunged in on Hannibal [who himself had been booked in the 28th minute for what CJ describes as a "needless swipe" from "a niggly player"]. He comes from a really high position. It didn't seem delibrate, but it looked bad and reckless. Gets a yellow.
Not one but two great strikes, one with each foot from Morris, one a superb goal the second hitting the post.
But on the whole not a particularly coherent display from the Boro with lots to get nervous about against a team low in confidence.
Joseph doesn't look like any kind of footballer. Terrible ball control. poor passing and looking lost.
Vitek, slow on the ball and almost getting caught and gifting an equaliser from nothing.
Alfie Jones, excellent throughout, then getting exposed with his lack of pace from a simple through ball.
Borges giving their right winger acres of space which Burnley which surely be wishing to exploit in the second half.
Having said that we should be 2 or 3 up. I hope we don't rue it as at Blackburn.
We have to improve and hope Burnley don't the encouragement of a goal
And we take the lead with a Morris shot!
23rd minute, assisted by Berhalter! His very first goal for Boro!
The goal:
I think he was quite pleased....
Bugger! The Clarets get the inevitable equaliser in the 54th minute! 🙁
Bugger! The Clarets get the inevitable equaliser in the 54th minute! 🙁
CJ:
Poor from Boro that. Burnley out for the second half with more purpose. Raghouber gets it and is allowed to drive too far with it. Jones follows the runner, leaving a huge gap for Raghouber to pick his spot.
Then another depressing comment three minutes later:
Boro suddenly looking very vulnerable to Burnley's pace, with Jones looking sluggish to balls over his shoulder. Satpaev runs off him and though Jones does enough to hold him up, he still gets a shot away which Vitek stops with his legs.
Castledine & Conway on for McGree & Joseph in the 61st minute.