Middlesbrough FC's Hayden Hackney developing at right pace, says Michael Carrick

The 22-year-old creator earned his team all three points thanks to a 74th-minute winning goal at early-season Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night. The win was Boro’s second straight victory and, ahead of Wednesday night’s games, was enough to move them up to sixth in the standings.

It was also Redcar-born Hackney’s second goal in as many games – having scored in Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Stoke City – and, for Carrick, was further evidence of the academy product’s growing maturity.

“He’s adding to his game all the time and he’s having a good spell at the moment, you can see that,” Carrick added.

“That level of confidence and personality, he doesn’t say an awful lot but shows personality when he’s on the pitch.

“We are trying to help him, develop him and improve his level – as a midfielder it can be dangerous chasing goals and next opportunities, but that will come with good play.

“He got the decisions spot on and he arrived at the right time to get his goal off the back of good play.”

Hackney’s performance was just one highlight of a good night’s work as far as Carrick was concerned, the Borom boss reserving particular praise for the defensive side of the game which saw his team register their second straight clean sheet.

"We had to be at our best and I thought we were,” added Carrick.

"“We looked dangerous and had chances early on. It was a fantastic goal when it came and I thought the lads got their rewards for all their good play.

“It’s (the clean sheet) as pleasing as anything. As a team we are all buying into it, all working for each other.

"To have success in this league you have to defend well, tonight was for the boys to show the importance of the other side of our game.”