Neto Borges has enjoyed an excellent season at Middlesbrough so far after returning from a loan at Bristol City

Kim Hellberg says Neto Borges earned his new Middlesbrough opportunity this summer because he proved he wanted to.

The defender has completely transformed his fortunes at Boro this season, having looked certain to leave after spending last season on loan at Bristol City.

Instead, Borges worked his way into Hellberg’s plans and has been a regular this term as Boro battle for promotion.

His Boro rejuvenation was sealed last week when he scored a last minute winner for Hellberg’s side to seal a 3-2 victory over Stoke City.

Afterwards, the defender told BBC Tees that he even thought his Boro career would be over this summer. But with a new head coach at the helm since his temporary exit, he returned with the attitude of working hard until told to leave.

Asked what Borges did to convince him this summer, Hellberg said pointedly: “The person. That's what it comes down to all the time.

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“I think I've been honest all the time. If you look at how some people get chances, it's very simple. If you come back here and want to work every day professionally and do everything right and try to improve every day.

“If you do all the things in a 10 out of a 10 way you will get good! That's the simple way in how we play and that's been very clear.

“If you're not going to play that much, it comes down to competition sometimes. You can have two roles. Look at those competing with Will.

“Kyle, for example. He's doing brilliant in training every day but he's also competing with Will. So that's sometimes the difficult part.

“But for Neto, how he approached this season. How he is as a person and how hard he's worked. He knows what's expected of him and he can grow from that. He's been exceptional.”

Borges’ turnaround at Boro leaves Hellberg with a good problem at left-back, where long-term target Max Arfsten is also competing for a spot in the team.

They're completely different profiles of players, however, with Arfsten far more attack-minded and even able to play higher up the pitch.

On the benefit of having players with contrasting styles competing for a spot, and if that's to Boro’s advantage, he said: “Absolutely. You have different types of profiles at centre-back or left-back, but also Sam [Byram] can play left-back and Max can play higher up.

“He has brilliant technique left and right. He's brilliant playing a wing role where he can play left and right and defend higher up. It's more about having different qualities and you put them in the best way of using them.

“It's the same with Tommy. A lot would look at him as a striker and that's also right, but in the way we play he's better on the left.

“I just want players who want to work every day, have qualities I can work with and try to help them with the things they can improve.”