Hayden Hackney injury verdict as Middlesbrough star makes 'frustrating' admission

Hayden Hackney is determined to make up for lost time this season after the Middlesbrough midfielder suffered a frustrating spell on the sidelines last term.

The England Under-21 international has missed just one Championship game all season, forming a useful partnership with summer signing Aidan Morris in the heart of the Boro midfield. It's a far cry from last season, which saw the 22-year-old miss the final three months of the season after picking up a knee injury, having already missed two months earlier in the campaign.

Boro will monitor a injury he picked up on England U21 duty this week, with the star returning to Teesside early, but speaking before the current international break, Hackney revealed how he is keen to ensure he makes the most of this season after the injury nightmare.

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"I've loved every minute of this season," he said. "It killed me last year, it was really frustrating. I didn't like it at all. Hopefully this year I carry on like this. Last season was my first real experience of injuries, I'd been lucky up to that point. I wasn't really used to it and it was hard to take. I can imagine I wasn't very nice to be around at home but it's all learning."

Asked whether long spells on the sidelines changed his mentality, he added: "100%. It gives you that drive to appreciate when you are fit and playing every game, to take it in, enjoy it and keep working as hard as you can."

Boro will assess Hackney and midfield partner Morris who also returned to Rockliffe early after picking up a knee injury while training with the USA. It's too early to say whether they will miss Saturday's game at Oxford, with Middlesbrough hopeful of good news on the pair.