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Kim Hellberg's Middlesbrough selection dilemmas assessed with Radek Vitek decision among them Our fan panel consider Kim Hellberg's big selection dilemmas and pick their Middlesbrough team for Lincoln The new season is finally here, and with it brings fresh hope and new expectations for Middlesbrough. A positive summer transfer window to date, coupled with the buzz around head coach Kim Hellberg leaves many feeling excited about the season ahead. After a bit of a test run in last week’s Carabao Cup win over Wrexham, Lincoln City are the visitors to the Riverside on Saturday to kickstart the new Championship season for Boro. Heading into it, Hellberg has a number of selection dilemmas and injury issues, however. While most players are now back in training, whether they're ready to start is another thing. Aidan Morris and David Strelec, meanwhile, were rated 50-50 to be available. So what team should Boro start with this weekend? Our fan panel, which this week consists of Youtube analyst Phil Spencer, Boro Breakdown co-host Dana Malt, Boropolis co-founder Chris Cassidy, Twe12th Man member John Donovan and streamer Ry 'Inrictus' Charman, offer their thoughts. Chris Cassidy Given Middlesbrough’s injury situation heading into their first Championship game of the season, I’m not convinced Kim Hellberg has a lot to change from last Friday’s win over Wrexham. That being said, there are a couple of changes I’m hoping to see. The first of which is Radek Vitek replacing Sol Brynn. To put it bluntly, you don’t pay £7m for a goalkeeper that isn’t going to play. Thankfully the Czech shot stopper arrived early enough in the window that there won’t need to be a ‘Brynn dropped’ storyline. Everyone expects Vitek to start and, after a full week of training, to be ready to take over as Boro’s number one. My other change would be Kyle Joseph for Jeremy Sarmiento. I thought Joseph looked really bright during his Carabao Cup appearance and will offer more against a physical Wrexham side. Despite his involvement in the goal, I thought Sarmiento was largely ineffective again and struggled to impact the game. It’s no surprise Boro are looking at bringing in another winger. In an ideal world, I’d also move Adilson Malanda back into the defense alongside Luke Ayling. However, due to the injury situation, I don’t think Myles Peart-Harris will be ready to start, and I’m not entirely sure Hellberg would trust Abdoulaye Kante despite his return from suspension. My XI [4-2-2-2]: Vitek; Brittain, Ayling, Borges, Arfsten; Berhalter, Malanda; Whittaker, Castledine; Lankshear, Joseph. Ry Charman I can’t believe the season is back! How time flies by like a galah on flames… My inclusions for this week are Morris and Joseph. Morris, if fit, is the best option to partner Berhalter in the middle of the field and I would give Joseph a start sitting behind Lankshear after what I thought was an impressive cameo in the Cup. The rest seemingly pick itself and it leaves good options on the bench also. My XI [4-2-3-1]: Vitek; Brittain, Ayling, Malanda, Arfsten; Morris, Berhalter; Whittaker, Castledine, Joseph; Lankshear. Dana Malt It depends on injuries, but I wouldn’t change too much. Vitek in for Brynn is the obvious alteration. I’m very excited to see Vitek between the sticks, he’s a top performing goalkeeper who impressed for Bristol City last season. He could transform this Boro team, who came unstuck at points late last season due to their poor performance in both boxes. If Myles Peart-Harris is back, I’d like to see him in midfield alongside Berhalter, where Malanda would drop back to centre half, in place of Borges, to maintain the right-foot, left-foot balance with Luke Ayling. I’m very intrigued by Peart-Harris as an 8. I saw him as more of a forward when he first signed, so I’m keen to see exactly why Hellberg may view him as a midfielder. I hope Kyle Joseph gets a decent cameo. I was impressed with his sub appearance against Wrexham, but I wouldn’t start him for this game. Let’s see if Sarmiento can get something cooking. He could be a useful asset for us this season, but needs to deliver more moments of fruitful excitement than hair ripping frustration. My team [4-2-3-1]: Vitek; Brittain, Ayling, Malanda, Arfsten; Berhalter, Peart-Harris; Whittaker, Castledine, Sarmiento; Lankshear. John Donovan I think Vitek should be straight in goal ahead of Brynn and would like to see Malanda back at centre-back. But I'd actually prefer to see Arfsten further up the pitch so will go with Borges at left-back. Lankshear will start and I would like to see Kyle Joseph running across the front line creating spaces for Lankshear or Whittaker to find. Castledine deserves to start though, so I'd push him back into midfield, with only rated 50-50. My team [4-2-2-2]: Vitek; Brittain, Ayling, Malanda, Borges; Berhalter, Castledine; Whittaker, Arfsten; Lankshear Joseph. Phil Spencer I expect that the side who faced Wrexham in the cup will largely be the side to start against Lincoln. The one change I'd certainly make is Radek Vitek coming in for Sol Brynn. I was impressed with the side and thought that Brittain, Ayling, Malanda and Arfsten showed promise. If Aidan Morris is fit then Malanda should drop back into defence with Neto Borges dropping out. Morris and Berhalter are our best midfielders so it will be great to see them together. Whittaker, Castledine and Lankshear all deserve to start, while I was also impressed with Sarmiento, who also deserves another shot in the team. He looked bright against Wrexham and hopefully we see his confidence flourish this season. Lincoln will be flying high on confidence but this surely has to be a home win to get the season up and running. My XI [4-2-3-1]: Vitek; Brittain, Ayling, Borges, Arfsten; Malanda, Berhalter; Whittaker, Castledine, Sarmiento; Lankshear. Now, pick your team! -------------------- As well as hearing their views on particular Boro topics on Teesside Live each week, you can also hear from them further on their respective platforms. Phil Spencer runs his own Youtube channel Bonkers For Boro, which you can subscribe to here, while Ry Charman has his own Youtube channel Inrictus, where he does popular live watchalongs of all Boro games. Chris Cassidy is part of the Boropolis Podcast, Dana Malt is part of the Boro Breakdown Podcast, and John Donovan is part of the Twe12th Man Podcast, all of which you can listen to on all major podcast outlets.