Born and raised in the seaside town of Redcar, east of Middlesbrough, Hayden Hackney's rise to become a key player for his boyhood Club is inspiring.

Hackney joined Boro's Academy at Under-10 level and rose through the ranks, becoming a part of an Under-18 team that reached the Premier League Cup final in 2019.

Success at youth level was a sign of things to come, as he signed his first professional contract with the Club on his 17th birthday.

Read more: Nathan Lowe: Developing on and off the pitch - The English Football League

Read more: Youth Development Week: Ricky- Jade Jones' Peterborough United journey - The English Football League

Despite initial struggles to establish himself as part of the first-team setup, with a loan to Scunthorpe United in 2021, following the appointment of Michael Carrick he quickly became a regular starter.

He was awarded the Middlesbrough Young Player of the Year award in 2023 and signed a new contract to keep him at the Club until 2027 following a standout debut season.

The 22-year-old's form at Club level was rewarded when he debuted for England at Under-21 level in a European Championship qualifying match. He has since gone on to appear for the Young Lions on seven occasions.

In 2023/24 he really took a step up to the next level, being an influential figure in his side's impressive run to the Carabao Cup Semi-Finals.

Although they were eventually knocked out, Hackney scored the only goal in a first-leg victory over Premier League giants Chelsea, a fitting story for the local lad turned Club hero.

He also captained Boro for the first time in the same month in a 1-0 home defeat in the FA Cup against Aston Villa.

Hackney's impressive role as a deep-lying playmaker in the middle of the park has been a constant during Carrick's reign on Teesside, and if Boro are to challenge for promotion to the top-flight, then he will be a big reason why.

Youth Development Week: Hayden Hackney's Middlesbrough rise

Youth Development Week: Hayden Hackney's Middlesbrough rise