A recent Instagram post from Middlesbrough has showcased a potential new partnership Michael Carrick can deploy in 2024/25.
Middlesbrough are now less than one month away from getting their 2024/25 campaign underway.
Boro kick off the Championship season on August 10th and it will be interesting to see how Michael Carrick lines up his side versus Swansea City.
The Teessiders finished eighth in the previous season but expectations are high going into the new campaign.
Middlesbrough have already made four new signings this summer and unlike last year, have so far kept hold of their top stars.
The injury crisis that plagued the club across 2023/24 has also largely subverted itself, leaving Carrick with plenty of options in most positions.
Hayden Hackney and Law McCabe pictured in Middlesbrough training
One area Carrick will have some big decisions to make in this summer is central midfield.
Aidan Morris moved to the Riverside recently and will likely be handed a prominent role in 2024/25.
However, Middlesbrough could already have a budding midfield partnership waiting in the wings made up of two academy graduates.
The Reds are currently away in Portugal for a warm-weather training camp before their pre-season fixtures start on July 20th.
While in Portugal, Boro have been active on Instagram and recently shared a post of several senior players training.
One image showed Hayden Hackney and Law McCabe side by side on the training picture.
Hackney and McCabe can be future of Middlesbrough midfield
With club captain Jonny Howson now 36 years old and out of contract next year, Carrick will need to start thinking about how to replace him.
Morris could step up into that role but the future of Middlesbrough’s midfield could be made up of academy stars.
Hackney was one of Boro’s standout players in the previous campaign before his season was derailed by injury.
As for McCabe, he made his senior debut earlier this year and recently signed a new four-year contract with the club.
The 18-year-old has plenty of potential and Carrick should start giving Hackney and McCabe opportunities to play together.
Both players are still young and if they can build a solid understanding of one another, Middlesbrough’s midfield could be sorted for the next six to eight years.