Ben Doak has stolen the headlines since his move from Liverpool to Middlesbrough in August.
Despite being well-stocked on the right wing, Middlesbrough made a surprise late move for Ben Doak on August 31st.
The teenager signed from Liverpool on a season-long loan and has since shone during his brief stint at the Riverside Stadium.
Doak was dubbed ‘impressive’ after Middlesbrough beat Stoke City 2-0, with that outing quickly seeing him displace Isaiah Jones as Michael Carrick’s favoured option on the right.
During the current break, meanwhile, it was revealed that Doak is leading the Championship in one crucial stat.
More recently, Doak made history for Scotland versus Portugal on Tuesday evening when Steve Clarke’s men held Cristiano Ronaldo and co. to a 0-0 draw at Hampden Park.
But while the winger has been the talk of the town since arriving in the North East, another Middlesbrough ace has been dominating the Championship in several areas.
Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney leading Championship in three key stats
The man in question is academy product and the Teessiders’ latest rising star, Hayden Hackney.
The midfielder has scored two in his last three outings for Boro, with one journalist labelling Hackney ‘exceptional’.
Now, as per Opta, it has been revealed that the 22-year-old is currently leading the Championship in three key stats.
Hackney has recorded 866 touches of the ball in total in the second tier in 2024/25 – the most amongst all midfielders in the competition and second overall in the Championship behind only Leeds United’s Pascal Struijk (898).
Furthermore, the Englishman has recorded the most successful passes in the opposition’s half in the division (400) – 93 more than any other player.
Hackney also ranks top for most successful passes ending in final third (198) – 61 more than any other player.
- READ MORE: How Middlesbrough academy ranks compared to Newcastle United and more Premier League clubs
Middlesbrough receive transfer interest in Hayden Hackney
While Hackney’s recent form is great for Boro’s promotion hopes this term, it has already started attracting fresh transfer interest.
Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United scouted Hackney during the 2024 summer window.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have since been linked with a move for the England U21 international.
But Boro News understands that Middlesbrough will not look at a sale in January and aim to keep Hackney to ensure they remain firmly in promotion contention come May.
Boro will be more than firm in their stance when it comes to keeping hold of the Redcar-born star but it remains to be seen what the future holds for the midfielder beyond the 2024/25 season.