Stoke City assistant manager Kim Hellberg has claimed defender Neto Borges possesses the quality to play in the Premier League. The comments came after the Portuguese full-back's eventful performance in the Potters' 3-2 home defeat to Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Hellberg made the assessment while discussing the 27-year-old's development and resilience. Hellberg stated. The assistant manager pointed to Borges's ability to recover from setbacks as a key trait, referencing the defender's own goal and subsequent late strike in the same match against Boro.
Eventful afternoon
The game itself was a rollercoaster for Borges. He inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 50th minute to give Middlesbrough a 2-0 lead, before scoring a spectacular long-range effort in stoppage time to make it 3-2. That late goal, his second of the season, was not enough to prevent a first defeat in five Championship games for Stoke.
The result leaves Steven Schumacher's side sixth in the table with 16 points from their opening ten matches. They are now seven points behind leaders Swansea City but remain firmly in the early play-off picture.
Hellberg's praise suggests Borges remains a trusted figure despite the error. The defender has been a consistent presence this term, featuring in all ten league games. His versatility, having played at both left-back and further forward, is seen as a major asset for a squad looking to maintain its promotion push.
Stoke must now regroup quickly for a trip to face struggling Derby County this Friday. Derby sit 23rd, offering a clear opportunity for Schumacher's men to bounce back. Check the details for that and all upcoming games on our fixtures page. The manager will hope Borges can channel his undeniable ability into a decisive performance at Pride Park.
The original report is at yorkshirepost.co.uk
The 3-2 defeat to Middlesbrough, which ended a four-game unbeaten run, saw Stoke concede three times for the first time this season. According to the match report, Middlesbrough's winning goal was scored by Neto Borges in stoppage time, with the wing-back also credited with an own goal for Stoke's second. The result leaves Stoke sixth in the Championship, having taken 16 points from their opening ten games.
The club confirmed on October 15 that Ben Wilmot made his 200th appearance for Stoke City in the 3-2 defeat to Middlesbrough. The defender, now the club's longest-serving player, is only the 14th to reach that milestone this century. Manager Mark Robins said, "He shifted into the middle of the back line, where he was in place to make blocks." The result leaves Stoke 8th in the Championship, with 16 points from 10 games.
