Kim Hellberg insists Middlesbrough star is destined for the Premier League - and he is only getting better
Middlesbrough closed the gap on Championship leaders Coventry City with a 4-0 win at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.
Middlesbrough claimed an impressive 4-0 win at Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers to close the gap to leaders Coventry City to five points and take a step closer to ending the club’s nine-year absence from the Premier League.
However, Boro boss Kim Hellberg has identified one of his players he believes is already prepared for life in the top flight of English football - and he insists this ‘unbelievable’ player is improving as his side’s push for promotion reaches its final stages.
Boro took the lead against the R’s thanks to a first-half strike from former Plymouth Argyle forward Morgan Whittaker before on-loan Sunderland midfielder Alan Browne doubled the advantage midway through the second-half. Hayden Hackney added a third goal with just under 20 minutes remaining before Tommy Conway rounded off a remarkable away day for an impressive band of travelling support from Teesside when he added a fourth goal from the penalty spot with just two minutes remaining.
Although it was a team performance from Boro as they dominated their hosts throughout a stunning 90-minute display, much of the post-match talk surrounded the performance of midfielder Hackney as he continues to enhance his reputation as one of the best talents outside of the Premier League. The Boro academy graduate’s goal means he has now found the net six times and he has provided seven assists in 38 appearances in all competitions this season - but that only tells half of the story when it comes to his influence on Hellberg’s side.
Nottingham Forest were believed to have made a big money bid for Hackney during the January transfer window but that was quickly rebuffed by Boro as they looked to hold on to the England Under-21 international for the remainder of their promotion push. North East neighbours Newcastle United and 13-time Premier League champions Manchester United are also believed to have shown an interest in the midfielder in the recent past. Hellberg has described the midfielder as a ‘top, top player’ and believes Hackney will end up in the Premier League in the near future.
Beautiful
Speaking after the win at Loftus Road, the Boro boss said of Hackney: “He is getting better all the time. I think he gets better every day, and understands more and more about how we work, and the spaces for him. And then, of course, the quality he has is unbelievable to work with. The quality he has as a player is unbelievable. The way he drives with the ball, he's working on his finishing, and that we have seen with some brilliant finishes.
“Norwich at home and this one is two beautiful goals. He also has the first chance in the first half, so he's unbelievable to work with. He's a pleasure and such a great guy for us to work with. He's a top player. He has everything and he will end up in the Premier League someday, and hopefully with us. Top, top player.”
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