MICHAEL Carrick says the combination of Hayden Hackney's talent and his love for Middlesbrough is the "perfect scenario" for the club - with Boro hoping to be boosted by the return of the midfielder in the Championship run-in.

Hackney has missed the last seven Boro games with a knee injury but Carrick revealed before the international break that the midfielder was making good progress.

It's not clear at this stage whether the 21-year-old will be fit to feature at Southampton on Good Friday but he is closing in on a return, which will be a major boost for Boro, who are seven points adrift of the Championship's play-off places with eight games to play.

Hackney has established himself as Boro's star man over the course of the last 18 months and since his appointment as head coach, Carrick has been blown away by the Redcar-born midfielder on and off the pitch.

"You couldn’t ask for much more from Hayden," said Boro's boss.

"He’s grounded, he’s humble, he’s down to earth and loves to learn. He loves the place and he loves the club as well.

"To have that, added with the talent he has got, it’s the perfect scenario. I think it just shows his consistency really, over a long period of time. It’s not easy when you’re a younger player, but he’s certainly done that."

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In the last 18-months, Hackney has become an England Under-21 international, signed two new deals at Boro and been linked with various Premier League clubs - but his attitude and approach hasn't changed, says Carrick.

He said: "There is a level of talent out there in and around football and sometimes it might not be that different player to player, but levels can be jumped, or not, if your head is not in the right place and you don’t go about your business in the right way and treat your profession with respect.

"Hayden certainly does that. He’s been exemplary really since I’ve been here and I really enjoy working with him. He’s desperate for more, desperate to learn, and he’s a real credit to his family, to himself and to the club."

Hackney's form led to him recently winning the North East Football Writers Association's Young Player of the Year award for 2023.

Carrick said: "It was fully deserved for Hayden and a boost and a reward for the academy and the club as a whole really, to have a player of the calibre of Hayden come through the system after being here so long.

"It’s the ideal scenario and it’s not easy to get to that when so many players are in the system.

"I know he’s had a couple of injury concerns over the past couple of months or so, but his performances over a long period of time have justified the award."