Kim Hellberg Aims for Crazy Atmosphere as Norwich Visits Boro

After a long, draining stretch on the road, Kim Hellberg cannot wait to walk back out at the Riverside.

Middlesbrough’s Carabao Cup exit at Crystal Palace in midweek was their fifth away trip in six matches and their third game in seven days. The miles are starting to stack up. Now comes the reset: home turf, Saturday afternoon, Norwich City under the lights and noise of Teesside.

Hellberg is banking on that noise.

He still thinks back to the last time Norwich came to the Riverside, when Hayden Hackney’s winner sent Boro joint top of the Championship and the stadium into uproar.

“I remember that game last season, it was a brilliant atmosphere and I remember the last five minutes were absolutely crazy,” he told BBC Radio Tees. “Norwich are a very good side… It will be a very tough game but the atmosphere in all our home games has been very good.”

Norwich, under Philippe Clement, have steadied themselves after a rocky start and arrive with momentum. Hellberg knows exactly what is coming.

“Philippe Clement has done a brilliant job, he's a very good coach, builds a strong and well-coached team,” he said. “He turned the season around for Norwich last year - they were in danger when he arrived and have built through that. He's a top coach and will give us a lot of different and difficult challenges.

“I think it is going to be a very good football game, two good teams against each other, brilliant kick-off time on a Saturday and we are looking forward to it.”

If the tactical battle will be sharp on the touchline, Hellberg insists the contest in the stands matters just as much. He sees a club still feeding off the scars and lessons of last season.

“After everything that happened last season, everyone has got stronger together,” he said. “Everyone has raised their level – players, supporters, coaches – everyone together to go to a higher level.

“I think the atmosphere has been very good in every game we have played and I am looking forward to being back against a very good side.

“We need the supporters being on our side and doing everything they can to help get us over the line against a very good opposition.”

That collective edge is mirrored on the pitch by the form of Will Lankshear, who has exploded into life since his summer move from Tottenham.

The 21-year-old missed out on the Championship Player of the Month award on Friday, but seven goals in eight games tell their own story. Hellberg sees far more than just numbers.

“I think he has done brilliantly, he's a good boy and has come into the team perfectly,” the head coach said. “He works very hard on and off the pitch and that's the culture we are trying to create here.

“I have seen a massive difference in the group, how they have progressed from the first day here to how we have gone forward and take care of each other in a very good way.

“I have so many good players here who compete in a brilliant way to try and help Middlesbrough win games and Will is one of them and it helps when you score a lot of goals.”

A rested crowd, a fired-up striker and a manager demanding “crazy” levels again at the Riverside. Norwich know exactly what kind of storm they are walking into.