Kim Hellberg names the Middlesbrough player he feels can play in the Premier League | OneFootball

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg gave a glowing review of Aidan Morris

Middlesbrough may have fallen short at the final hurdle last season, but there were plenty of positives and causes for optimism to be taken from Kim Hellberg's first half-campaign at the Riverside.

The Swede's high-intensity, entertaining style of football was a breath of fresh air in the Championship, attacking at will and, when things were clicking on the field, blowing teams away at times.

The way Hellberg was able to bring out the best in his players in such a short time hasn't gone unnoticed, and there will be many critics tipping some of the Boro squad to make the Premier League in the near future, whether that be at their current club or elsewhere.

The number one target for the Premier League this summer will be Hayden Hackney, coming off the back of his Championship Player of the Year campaign. Everton are reportedly the frontrunners for a deal, but Boro are staying firm with their £20 million valuation as he enters the final year of his contract.

However, the fanfare surrounding the 23-year-old has arguably dimmed some of the shine on his teammates, who could also be following the midfielder into the top flight sooner rather than later.

Kim Hellberg heaps praise on Aidan Morris after a brilliant second season at Middlesbrough

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A lot of the praise sent Kim Hellberg's way since arriving at Middlesbrough has been to do with how he's given Hackney the creative freedom to play higher up the field and force the issue in an attacking sense.

However, for that to happen, the Swedish boss has had to trust those behind their star man to break down opposition attacks and begin their own attacking sequences to ensure they stay on top in games, and Aidan Morris has done that exceptionally well this past season.

The American's sophomore year at the Riverside saw him once again be a solid disruptor in the engine room, while also being a good creative outlet.

In a midfield which included the division's best player, it's safe to say that Morris went under the radar, but Kim Hellberg made sure to give him the praise he deserves in the wake of the season ending.

"I have a lot of good players. I think Aidan has grown all the time throughout the season," he said, per Teeside Live. "That's because he's been working hard, taking steps every day. I think he's been absolutely brilliant.

"I think there's a lot of players in our team that can play in the Premier League, lots of good players, and Aidan is one of them. He's improved throughout the season, each game better and better.

"He was brilliant alongside Hayden, who I think was the best centre midfielder in the league by far. But he's continued improving also in the absence of Hayden.

"They were very good together, and it was one very great midfield — very good on the ball, and good at creating opportunities. Aidan just keeps raising his levels, and I think that's very important."

Aidan Morris will be a key part of Middlesbrough's promotion charge in 2026/27

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With Hackney being the star of the midfield at the Riverside this past season, there's little to no noise surrounding Morris and a move to the Premier League. Indeed, it's expected that the 24-year-old will be sticking around for a third year at the club.

That will be a big plus for Hellberg and his side, as the American has all the capabilities of carrying the baton on from Hackney if their star man does depart.

Despite the results being far from ideal when Hackney was out towards the end of the season, Morris still performed well at the heart of the midfield, and that will give Middlesbrough confidence about life without their academy graduate.

The 24-year-old can still pull the strings and, according to the underlying numbers last season, should have registered two more assists than the three he managed, while also scoring three times, too.

If he can take that next step in his third season at the Riverside and become a midfielder who can register several goal involvements, there's no doubt he'll be making his Premier League debut soon enough. Perhaps that could come at his current club.