Middlesbrough FC hoping for play-off lift from new Championship player of the year Hayden Hackney
Middlesbrough are hoping to have Hayden Hackney back in time for the play-offs after the talismanic midfielder was named Championship player of the season.
It is a responsibility the home-grown player relishes, and one balance by the freedom to express himself he says he has been given by coach Kim Hellberg.
Boro's automatic promotion hopes have faded badly in recent weeks, and it is probably no coincidence captain Hackney has missed the last five matches with a calf injury, but they are hoping to have the best player in the division back for the final match of the regular campaign.
"It's been chaos this season if I'm being honest, but we had a good result today, unlucky not getting three points, and hopefully we can get back up there," said Hackney, speaking at an awards ceremony hours after Boro's controversial 2-2 draw at Ipswich Town.
"I grew up watching this club, going to the games just a normal fan, and then being able to put on that shirt and play at The Riverside is unbelievable.
"There's a little bit more responsibility because of that but I enjoy it.
"I've got to thank Kim coming in so much, along with all the coaching staff. I think he's given me that almost freedom just to go and express myself, and do what I do best, almost giving me the freedom to be more attacking."
The England Under-21 international has been integral to Boro this season, both under Rob Edwards and his mid-season replacement as coach Hellberg, scoring five goals and making seven more in 37 league appearances.
It is therefore no surprise his absence has been keenly felt.
"It’s really just a case of waiting with him," said Hellberg when asked when Hackney might retun. "When it’s done, he can go back out onto the grass and we can go. It’s very difficult to get an exact timeframe for it. We will see.
"Maybe it’s the Wrexham game, but it’s difficult to know because he hasn’t been able to go out onto the grass yet.”
Riley McGree also missed the trip to Ipswich, where the hosts equalised from a debatable late penalty, but the hope is he will be fit for Wednesday's game at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
The draw at Portman Road extended Boro's run without a win to seven matches. They are only three points off Ipswich, but the second-placed side have four matches left, to Boro's three, and Millwall and Southampton sit between the pair. The gap to seventh-placed Wrexham is six points.
Coventry City's Frank Lampard beat Hull City's Sergej Jakirovic to the Championship manager of the year in the Football League's end-of-season awards.
Doncaster Rovers' Owen Bailey was beaten to the League One player of the year award by Leyton Orient's Dom Ballard, but was Yorkshire's sole representative in the team of the year. Former Leeds United caretaker manager Michael Skubala was manager of the year for leading Lincoln City to the title.
Bromley manager Andy Woodman and Aaron Drinan of Swindon Town took the League Two awards.
Bradford City's Greener Bantams programme won the League's environmental award and took the Huddersfield Town's Terriers Together Travel took the fan engagement prize. Middlesbrough's academy head of operations Wendy Thomas won the club employee award.