--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-27T21:24:51.298Z last_updated: 2026-07-19T12:49:47+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/middlesbrough/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ2F6ZXR0ZWxpdmUuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvdHJhbnNmZXItbmV3cy90ZWVuYWdlLWRlZmVuZGVyLWNhdGNoZXMtZXllLW5vdGFibGUtMzQzMTUzMTE --- # Teenage defender catches the eye and other notable Middlesbrough performances at Celtic - **Source:** - **Published:** 19 Jul - **Club:** Middlesbrough - **Original URL:** https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/teenage-defender-catches-eye-notable-34315311 But as Kim Hellberg waits for new signings and prepares for the new campaign, the one thing he continues to stress is how this is offering him a chance to take a look at other players who maybe didn’t play as much last term. While we pretty much got what you’d expect in solid performances from the likes of Callum Brittain and Luke Ayling, it was perhaps in watching the lesser-seen players that was the most useful aspect of the friendly. We take a look at some particularly notable performances at Celtic. With a number of players absent, it was 19-year-old centre-back Jack Daley who profited most - drafted into the starting lineup alongside Ayling in defence. He really caught the eye. Early on, Boro struggled to play through the lines and were somewhat pinned into their own half. Daley stood firm and looked really assured and mature at the back as he cleared a few early crosses well. As the game wore on, he grew in confidence in possession too, stepping out with the ball well. There were a few times as Celtic tried to break down the Boro defence, where Daley handled his duels well - battling with a striker who scored five goals in the Champions League last season. And when Camilo Duran did score, it was through Malanda and Ayling that Celtic played through, with Daley on the other side of the defence. The youngster added the assist for the Boro goal to boot. This was a seriously impressive performance from the young defender, who looked more than at home in a senior team. He has a season of senior experience under his belt, having signed for Boro from non-league side Newcastle Blue Star last summer. This was a big step up in quality though, and he handled it impressively. Another to profit from the absences was Neto Borges. He was the only player on the pitch to complete the full 90 minutes. It’s an interesting summer ahead for the popular Brazilian, who returns to Boro after a solid loan at Bristol City last term. It means this is the first chance he’s getting to show Hellberg what he can do. It’s no secret Boro are pushing hard to sign Max Arfsten this summer, to add some pace and attacking impetus at left-back. Borges was as solid as ever at Celtic, but he struggles to add the same kind of pace in attack to the side. The only new signing on show at Celtic as Kyle Joseph continues his recovery from injury, there will have been many eyes on Myles Peart-Harris. Despite spending a lot of his recent career as a forward, he dropped into a midfield role in this game - a role he has played often in his younger career. In fact, it’s a role he admitted after he enjoys playing. There was certainly no shortage of confidence as Peart-Harris dropped into all kinds of positions on the pitch looking to get on the ball. Even when in and around his own box, he never shied away, nor did he ever look flustered in helping Boro play out from the back. He looked confident on the ball without ever really having a major impact on the game, before understandably tiring later on. There were times when his natural desire to break towards the opposition box left midfield partner Adilson Malanda looking exposed in the middle of the park, though it’d be better to judge his ability to get back in from that role, in the same Hayden Hackney always could, once he’s got his match sharpness where it needs to be. FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! Keep up with all the Middlesbrough FC latest via the Gazette's dedicated Facebook page It feels like a big summer for Jeremy Sarmiento. Arriving on loan in January, he failed to have the desired impact as Boro fell away and surrendered their solid position in the promotion race. Sarmiento arrived massively short of match sharpness, however, and, with Boro obliged to sign the forward permanently this summer, he now must use pre-season to show he can produce much more in the upcoming season. The endeavour was certainly there at Celtic. He had energy and desire to get on the ball and try to make things happen - often leading Boro attacks with his dribbling, pace and trickery. His desire to impress was plain to see. However, he didn’t have any major impact on the game because his end product was all too often lacking. Whether it was poor decision-making or poor execution of a pass or shot, little came off for the forward once he got himself into dangerous areas. This early in pre-season, the match sharpness can impact that. It could come if he builds up his minutes over the summer. But that it largely just looked like a continuation of last season wasn’t the most assuring of starts. David Strelec faces an interesting year ahead too, after a mixed first season at Boro. While he managed to get some goals, it’s fair to say his overall impact last term was not quite what Boro needed, having spent such a large chunk of their budget on him. Hellberg continues to reiterate he sees real potential in the Slovakian, and in scoring Boro’s goal by out-muscling his marker and turning to finish from close range, it was a real positive for Boro. Strelec’s goal added to the two he scored last weekend against Farense. But, much like last season, his overall impact in the game beyond his goal was lacking. Strelec still just looks a little lost in the Boro team, with no real connection with his team-mates or plan for how to get the best out of him. As the game wore on and the changes became more frequent, the game lost its flow and Boro lost the control they’d had on the game. They lost their grip after Abdoulaye Kante and Law McCabe came on, and that’s concerning, particularly when remembering the Doncaster cup defeat of last season that ultimately resulted in McCabe being loaned out and Alan Browne arriving. Kante would then later head out - with the two promising young midfielders ultimately just struggling to command games in the way Boro need their midfield to. It feels like a big summer for both of the young midfielders to try and stake their claim and prove themselves. It perhaps wasn’t the best sign for either then that, in the absence of Aidan Morris, Hellberg pushed Malanda into midfield and started Daley. But, to Kante’s credit, he at least showed positive signs when he came on for the final 25 minutes. He was positive in possession and proved that he’s far more than just a defensive-minded disruptor in the middle of the park. Middlesbrough are preparing for a big summer as they look to rebuild from the heartarche of missing out on promotion to the Premier League. Make sure you don't miss out on the latest Boro news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. Your information will be hidden, you'll only ever receive messages from the Teesside Live sports team, and you can leave any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'Exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.