Middlesbrough will be without Tommy Conway for their Championship play-off final against Hull City.
However, Hayden Hackney is ready to play some part in the match after his fitness was confirmed by Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg.
Hackney Returns From Injury
Hayden Hackney has not featured since 14 March because of a groin injury, missing 10 games. Boro have only won two of those games.
The 23-year-old’s availability for the semi-final is believed to have been behind Southampton’s spying mission at Boro’s Rockliffe Park training ground.
Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees that Hackney is ready before Saturday’s final against Hull City.
“Hayden’s ready,” Hellberg said.
“It’s a question mark of how much he’s ready and how is best to solve the puzzle in terms of everything that goes around the game and what suits him best, and us best.”
Conway Ruled Out With Ankle Injury
Striker Tommy Conway will not play in the promotion decider after picking up an ankle injury in the second leg of the semi-final against Southampton.
Conway, also 23, left the field at St Mary’s in tears with the injury also ruling him out of selection for Scotland’s World Cup squad.
Hellberg is disappointed not to be able to call upon a player who has featured in every match since the Swede’s arrival in November.
“Through the season, Tommy has been very, very important,” he said.
“Over the last five or six games, it’s been his best spell in terms of how he has run, how dangerous he has been moving into the box, how good he’s been from the left.
“Of course it’s a big blow not having him in the squad, but he will do everything he can to support us. But that’s football, injuries can happen and other people have to step forward.”
Hackney and Conway’s Season
- Hayden Hackney and Tommy Conway have scored a combined 19 goals for Middlesbrough this season.
Middlesbrough will face Hull City in the Championship play-off final.