What Kim Hellberg said about Hayden Hackney's fitness ahead of play-off final | OneFootball

The Championship Player of the Year missed both legs of the play-off semi-final defeat against Southampton through injury

After a truly hectic and unprecedented few days, it's finally been confirmed that Middlesbrough will be the side to take on Hull City in the Championship play-off final on Saturday.

Boro were beaten over two legs in the play-off semi-finals by Southampton, but were reinstated after the EFL expelled Tonda Eckert's side following multiple breaches of the rules relating to the unauthorised filming of training sessions, including in the first leg of that semi-final at the Riverside.

The Saints lost their appeal against the decision, meaning that both Hull and Middlesbrough will face off with Premier League football on the line, with a new kick-off time of 3:30pm being announced.

Hull will feel aggrieved that the four training sessions they reportedly spent preparing for Southampton will go to waste, but all focus now is on Kim Hellberg's side, and one of the main questions that will be answered on Saturday will be how much of an impact, if any, Hayden Hackney will have on the game.

What Kim Hellberg said about Hayden Hackney's fitness ahead of Middlesbrough's play-off semi-finals

Hackney was crowned Championship Player of the Season at the EFL awards back in April after a stellar campaign, where he's been the star man in the engine room for an impressive Boro side, scoring five times and adding another seven assists.

However, the 23-year-old has been missing since being withdrawn midway through the second half in their 1-1 draw with Bristol City back in mid-March with a calf injury.

Hackney had to watch on from the sidelines as his side won just two of their final eight league games without him, and everyone at the Riverside prayed for his fitness to improve so he could play a part in the play-off semi-finals against Southampton.

Understandably, Kim Hellberg was coy about his status ahead of the first leg on May 9, which he didn't feature in, but was clear ahead of the second leg that he wouldn't be able to play a part at St Mary's in the second.

However, Hellberg hinted that, if Middlesbrough reached the play-off final, he would be ready to play.

"Hayden is preparing for the final. He will not be ready for this one, but I think he will be ready for the final," he said. "He hasn't been close enough [to play in the second leg] to be fair.

"He's on the grass now, and that was a massive step forward in the last few days. He's getting better and better, and in 14 days, he will be ready.

"If it comes to it, then we will look to arrange some games to get him ready. You always need to look for a plan leading up to that game, and of course, we are prepared for that. We have a schedule mapped out right up to the final."

Hayden Hackney's return would be a massive boost for Middlesbrough's promotion hopes

Whether that schedule changed following their semi-final defeat against Southampton is yet to be seen. Boro were reportedly still in training after the loss at St Mary's in case the result of the charge panned out as it has, so perhaps not much has changed.

Hellberg will likely give a definitive answer about whether Hackney will be fit to play any part in Saturday's play-off final in his press conference later today [21 May], and any good news on that front will be well appreciated by everyone of a Boro persuasion.

Middlesbrough were still in the automatic promotion places when the 23-year-old went down with his calf injury, and while Boro were showing signs of a wobble before he was sidelined, it's no coincidence that it turned into a full-on collapse without the reigning league Player of the Year.

Even if he's only fit enough for a role off the bench, Hackney would immediately boost Middlesbrough's promotion chances. Kim Hellberg's side tired towards the end of their semi-final second leg against Southampton, and his presence would help maintain the energy in the engine room.