Hayden Hackney has been a standout player for Middlesbrough in their last two Championship fixtures.
The Middlesbrough academy product had a prolific 2023/24 season that included him scoring the winner against Chelsea in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.
Such impressive form last term saw Hayden Hackney begin to garner transfer interest from some big-name clubs.
Both Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United scouted Hackney earlier this year, with Boro no doubt fearful of losing one of their star players.
The England U21 international did not have the best start to the 2024/25 campaign though, with summer signing Aidan Morris instead stealing the spotlight in the centre of the pitch.
However, in the Teessider’s last two Championship fixtures, the 22-year-old has been back to his sensational best.
Hackney was the standout performer when Middlesbrough beat West Brom on Tuesday evening to move into the top six for the first time this term.
Middlesbrough cult hero key to Hayden Hackney form
Hackney scored the only goal of the game in the 73rd minute, passing the ball into the net from the edge of the box.
Following the tie, the likes of Morgan Rogers and Ben Doak praised Hackney for his display in the comment section of his latest Instagram post.
Neil Maddison also labelled Hackney and Morris ‘outstanding’ in his post-match commentary for BBC Tees Sport.
And now, Hackney has revealed that one of Middlesbrough’s cult heroes from their promotion-winning season, Grant Leadbitter, has been doing extra work with him after training in order to help him improve.
He said: “Obviously, I got myself onto the edge of the box. I’ve been working on my finishing with Grant [Leadbitter] after training, it’s paid off.”
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Middlesbrough may have found their new Grant Leadbitter and Adam Clayton
The last time Middlesbrough won promotion to the Premier League was in the 2015/16 season under Aitor Karanka.
A number of ex-Boro stars made themselves cult heroes at the Riverside Stadium for their role in that promotion.
Two of which were the central midfield pairing of Leadbitter and Adam Clayton, who fans will no doubt remember from their wild promotion celebrations in the town after the draw with Brighton and Hove Albion.
Clayton and Leadbitter formed an excellent partnership at the base of Boro’s midfield that season, which was arguably the best in the Championship at the time.
Morris and Hackney perhaps lack some of the defensive grit the aforementioned pair brought to Middlesbrough.
But it is already clear, despite their very limited playing time together, that Morris and Hackney are forming an excellent partnership that could be crucial to the Teessiders once again winning promotion this time around.