Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg says he is "looking forward" to the challenge Charlton will provide them after going to the top of the Championship last weekend.

The league leaders return to action eight days after their thumping 5-1 win at Bolton last Friday, in which striker Will Lankshear took his Championship goal tally to 11, while the club have now racked up 27 goals in their first 12 league games.

On Saturday, they host a Charlton side which are currently winless in their last nine league games, a run which stems back to 29 August.

After facing Charlton, Hellberg's side face trips to Wrexham and Watford before the second international break of the season next month.

"You could see on the training pitch there was a lot of positive energy from the players because of the performance [against Bolton]," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees.

"It gives you a good platform to go out and do a good training, which we have done. Again, there were things that we want to improve from the game, and there were things that we did very, very good.

"We go through everything as normal and try to put the right foot in front of the left one and keep walking forward.

"They [Charlton] are a good side and have a very good coach. I am really looking forward to the challenge on Saturday and to keep improving".

Hellberg also confirmed fit-again striker David Strelec is in contention to face Charlton on Saturday.

Slovakian international Strelec has played just 10 minutes of Championship football this season and has been missing from Boro's matchday squad since their 2-2 draw with Birmingham last month.

"I think David is a top striker. He has so much quality, and I am very happy having him back now," Helberg said.

"It's never good to have injuries, but they have come at a bad time. But I can see him back on the pitch now, and he looks very, very sharp."

Meanwhile, there was less good news about the fitness of defender Alfie Jones, who is currently out with an ankle injury.

Hellberg confirmed the defender is still "some weeks" away from returning to first-team action.