How Morgan Rogers and Tommy Conway have reacted to Hayden Hackney's Middlesbrough exit | OneFootball

The likes of Morgan Rogers and Tommy Conway have reacted to Hayden Hackney's Middlesbrough farewell message

Middlesbrough, after falling at the final hurdle to miss out on promotion to the Premier League last campaign, will be keen to right their wrongs next time around, but Kim Hellberg's side will have to do it without one of their star players.

Middlesbrough, for a huge chunk of the season, occupied one of the top two places in the second tier alongside Coventry City, but as the Sky Blues went on to clinch the title, Boro slipped on the final straight.

Two wins in their final ten league games meant the Teesside outfit dropped from the top two positions and all the way down to fifth by the end of the year, seeing each of Southampton, Millwall, and Ipswich Town leapfrog them.

Boro knew that missing out on promotion would almost certainly mean that Hayden Hackney would leave the club, and as they were given a second chance at life in the play-offs, with Southampton expelled after being found guilty of spying, a defeat to Hull City in the final sealed theirs, and Hackney's fate.

Now, as the English midfielder completes his big-money move elsewhere, a host of former teammates have reacted to his farewell message via Instagram.

Morgan Rogers and Tommy Conway among those reacting to Hayden Hackney's Middlesbrough farewell message

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Interest in Hackney this summer was always going to be rife, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace vying for his signature, but it would be Everton who would secure a deal for the Englishman, agreeing to pay Boro an up-front fee of at least £16 million for his signature, potentially rising to £24 million subject to add-ons.

Hackney, 24, was in the final year of his deal at Boro, and had he had multiple years remaining on his deal on Teesside, one would imagine that fee would have been significantly higher.

The former England youth international had spent his entire professional career contracted to Boro prior to his move to Merseyside, aside from a loan spell with Scunthorpe United, making 154 appearances across all competitions for his boyhood club.

An exit was always going to be emotional for Hackney, who has taken to Instagram to bid farewell to the club where he has spent his entire youth and professional career.

In his farewell message, Hackney states that it was always his dream to play for Middlesbrough, and thanks each and every staff member who has helped him to get where he is, before stating that it was a privilege to play for the club.

As the goodbye and good luck messages pour in the comment section, some familiar faces have reacted to Hackney's message, namely Aston Villa attacker Morgan Rogers, as well as Boro teammates Tommy Conway and Jeremy Sarmiento.

Rogers said: "What a guy."

Conway said: "All the best my brother ❤️❤️❤️."

Sarmiento said: "All the best hermano ❤️."

Rogers made 33 appearances for Boro during the 2023/24 campaign before joining Aston Villa for a potential £15 million the summer after, where he has since become one of the best players in the Premier League and is linked with a nine-figure move elsewhere.

Conway and Sarmiento will likely remain as teammates at Boro next season, but will be without Hackney in the dressing room, in what will be a huge blow for the squad.

Kim Hellberg must do his best to ensure Hayden Hackney's departure doesn't negatively affect the Middlesbrough squad

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Swedish head coach Hellberg will be well aware of the quality they are losing in the departure of Hackney, with his presence both on and off the pitch something he will find extremely difficult to replace.

There is no doubt Boro are a better side with him in the team, and his departure will be greatly felt regardless of who they bring in to replace him.

Hellberg must ensure that losing Hackney is dealt with as best as possible, and though replacing him will not be an easy task, he must put a lot of resources into ensuring it is handled as best as it can be.