Malanda 'a very good footballer and a top

KIM Hellberg has been left very impressed with Adilson Malanda in his first week at Middlesbrough but has called for patience with the defender.

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Malanda arrived at Boro at the start of this week, having completed his loan spell with Charlotte FC last month, before having a three-week holiday.

It follows Boro's big-money move for the 24-year-old in the summer, which was understood to be worth in the region of £6m. Malanda won't be available to play for Boro until January, when the EFL registration window reopens. Instead, for the time being he will be doing what's being described as “a mini preseason” as he gets up to speed and integrates with the group.

In this first week, Malanda has been training alone, working on an individual programme designed to rebuild his sharpness after his post-MLS campaign break.

On his first impressions, Hellberg said: “He hasn't trained with us yet.