SENY Dieng is set to be left out of Middlesbrough's 25-man EFL squad for the second half of the season when it's confirmed next week.
It comes after the keeper's failed deadline day move to Feyenoord and the arrival of Joe Wildsmith, who will join Sol Brynn and Jon McLaughlin as the senior keepers in the Boro squad.
It's understood the EFL will release the squad lists early next week.
Dieng was named in the 25 for the first half of the season but hasn't been included in a matchday squad all season, with McLaughlin getting the nod as the cover keeper on the bench.
Dieng was available to leave in January but a move to Hull failed to materialise and his switch to Feyenoord then fell through in the final hours of the window.
Boro knew about Dieng's Feyenoord move collapsing before confirming the signing of Wildsmith from West Brom but still gave the green light for the loan arrival of the 30-year-old.
Brynn is the clear and established No.1 at Boro, and that will continue to be the case for the second half of the season, but Hellberg was pleased to land Wildsmith, who, alongside McLaughlin, will add further experience to the ranks.
"You know, Sol's been playing all the time and there's always competition, but Sol is the clear number one for everyone here," said Boro's head coach.
"And of course, if they do it good on the training ground, there's always a possibility. But I think it's a good group of goalkeepers that compete but also help each other in a very good way.
"I'm just glad to have that group of goalkeepers now. It's a very good group, and I just focus on trying to do a very good job with them. So, I think it [Wildsmith] was a very good addition. He's a good lad, very experienced, good person.
"That group will be a very comfortable and good group of goalkeepers. I'm happy with that."
Dieng still has 18 months left to run on his deal at the Riverside but hasn't played for Boro since April, 2024.
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While Dieng's deadline day move collapsed, there was one exit in the final hours of the window with Sverre Nypan returning to Manchester City.
Boro were delighted to land the young Norwegian in the summer but it didn't work out for the midfielder.
Hellberg said: "Sverre going back was sad, I liked Sverre very, very much. But now he's gone back, and we have to focus on our group.
"Even if he didn't play that much, he was a very good person in the group. He trained very well, he did some good performances. I just wish him the best at Man City now, and hopefully, it will be good for him."
"A little bit calmer" is how Hellberg described life at Boro after the transfer window closed.
As for the mood in the camp at Rockliffe after Boro climbed to joint top of the Championship thanks to last week's win over Norwich City - very much unchanged.
"It's been a similar feel or trying to improve, working hard and being happy," said Boro's head coach.
And happy was how he described himself with the make-up of Boro's squad after overseeing his first transfer window as head coach.
Four incomings and a couple of exits, with Leo Castledine, Fin Munroe, Jeremy Sarmiento and Wildsmith linking up with the squad and Delano Burgzorg and Nypan moving on.
"We finished the window in a good way," said the head coach.
"I think we have made decisions for now and for the future, and I think that was important.
"And the players that are here are good characters and good players for us, so I'm happy with it."
Monday's opponents Sheffield United are still in the bottom half in the Championship but are unbeaten in four and Hellberg is relishing a tough challenge for his side.
"There are so many different types of challenges in this league and how many teams play with different structures," he said.
"It's an unbelievable league to be in in terms of the challenge that they give you.
"Playing a lot of games in a short amount of time, tough away grounds, big grounds, big crowds, different type of playing.
"Norwich was one type of game and this will be a completely different, Preston was another one that was very different, so it gives you different challenges.
"It's a very interesting league to be in especially as a coach and seeing the different challenges. I just focus on trying to find the best way to help the players perform."
