MIDDLESBROUGH head coach Kim Hellberg has confirmed that Hayden Hackney will not be involved in Tuesday night’s Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Southampton at St Mary’s (8pm).

Boro’s star turn has missed the club’s last nine games after picking up a calf injury in the 1-1 home draw against Bristol City on March 14.

There had been hopes that Hackney could be involved in the tie after he accompanied his team-mates on the coach into the Riverside Stadium for the first leg on Saturday.

Speaking ahead of the tie – deadlocked at 0-0 after the first encounter on Teesside - Hellberg spoke positively regarding Hackney’s chances of potentially being involved from the bench.

Key Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.

placeholder image — Key Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.

But he has now admitted that he will not be – with the caveat being that he could be ready for possible involvement in the final on Saturday week against either Millwall or Hull City at Wembley (May 23) – should Boro make it there.

Hellberg said: "Hayden is preparing for the final (if Boro qualify), he will not be ready for this one but I think he will be ready for the final.

"He hasn't been close enough, to be fair.

"He's on the grass now, and to be fair, this was a massive step forward, the latest days here.

Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg gestures on the touchline during the Sky Bet Championship play off semi-final first leg match at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough.

"So it's getting better and like I said, in 14 days he will be ready."

The Spygate 2-0 saga has massively overshadowed this particular tie after the English Football League charged opponents Southampton with a breach of regulations after a performance analyst was alleged to have recorded Boro in training and taken pictures of tactics on Thursday morning.

The EFL's disciplinary commission will decide the punishment for Saints, who acknowledged the charge on Friday evening.

After Leeds United were found guilty of spying on Derby County ahead of a game in 2019, they were fined £200,000 and new rules were introduced, prohibiting clubs from observing training 72 hours prior to a match.

According to the EFL handbook, punishments range from fines, points deductions, transfer embargoes and removal from a competition.

Over the weekend, some reports stated Boro had been approached by fellow Championship clubs who themselves harboured suspicions that their pre-match training sessions may also have been spied on by Southampton.

Asked about that, Hellberg said: “On Saturday, I was as honest as I can (be) to everyone.

"I think we need to try to talk about the game, that's the most important thing now.

"Like I said, I answered all those questions very honestly, what I think about it on Saturday.

"I've been given an unbelievable reception here from everyone.

"I just want to try to do everything I can to give back as much as possible, to get (us) in a good place and they (players and staff) are fighting very, very hard to try to do it.

"So we're just looking forward to the opportunity to try to take it to the final.”