Hansen rested for fitness as Middlesbrough progress past Wrexham
Middlesbrough’s decision to leave Sontje Hansen out of their matchday squad for the Carabao Cup tie against Wrexham was explained by manager Kim Hellberg on Monday, as the club sought to prioritise the forward’s minutes with the Under‑21s.
Wrexham travelled to Teesside for the first‑round tie, which ended in a narrow 1‑0 win for Middlesbrough courtesy of a Will Lankshear strike that sent the visitors out of the competition. Hansen’s omission had initially puzzled supporters, but the club made clear the move was fitness‑related rather than disciplinary or transfer‑linked.
- Sontje Hansen did not make the Middlesbrough first‑team squad for the cup match against Wrexham.
- He was instead given minutes with the Under‑21s to build match sharpness after a late return to pre‑season following international duty with Curaçao.
- Middlesbrough won the tie 1–0, with Will Lankshear scoring the decisive goal.
Speaking after the game, Hellberg said the plan was designed to improve Hansen’s physical condition. He stressed the decision was taken to give the player more competitive minutes as he worked to catch up with team mates.
“Sontje was not here. It was no injury. He played a game [for the U21s] on Friday, because we looked at his physics. It was a little bit the same thing that we talked about before the game: we had to do as much as we could for everyone because we're still in the pre‑season stage.”
Hansen’s late return to club training followed his involvement with Curaçao at this summer’s World Cup, which the manager cited as the reason the forward was slightly behind in his conditioning. Hellberg indicated the club wanted to maximise opportunities across the weekend to enhance fitness and preparation.
The 24‑year‑old forward struggled for consistent game time during the previous season on Teesside and admitted then that he had not featured as often as he would have liked. With Middlesbrough strengthening their attacking options in the current transfer window, there has been speculation that Hansen could be one of the players considered for departure as the club trims the squad.
Hellberg, however, made clear that until any move materialises Hansen remains part of the manager’s plans and will be considered for selection if he earns opportunities on the training ground.
“He's here and he's training. He came back late because of the World Cup, which means that he is a little bit behind with his physics and fitness. That’s why together we made that decision.”
Immediate impact for Wrexham
For Wrexham, the result means elimination from the Carabao Cup at the hands of a Championship side who fielded a squad balancing first‑team needs with player development. The match offered both a stern test and a reminder of the narrow margins in cup football.
| Fixture | Score | Decisive goal |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesbrough v Wrexham (Carabao Cup) | 1–0 | Will Lankshear |
Hansen’s situation will be one to watch for Wrexham followers over the coming weeks, not because of any immediate impact on the tie just played, but because his future at Middlesbrough and any potential movement in the transfer window could alter the composition of opponents Wrexham will face in future cup and league fixtures.
For now, the manager’s explanation should calm any misunderstanding about the forward’s omission: it was a considered, fitness‑led choice rather than a sign of strained relations or imminent departure. Supporters from both clubs will hope that, whatever the route that follows, players returning from international tournaments are afforded the time they need to reintegrate safely and effectively.
