Hayden Hackney's new long-term deal at Middlesbrough is a reward for his "terrific" form, says Michael Carrick, who believes the midfielder's emergence will inspire other youngsters coming through the ranks on Teesside.

Hackney has played every minute for Boro since Carrick's appointment as head coach, establishing himself as a key man and earning himself a new long-term deal, committing to the club until the summer of 2026.

Carrick praised the 20-year-old for the way he's taken everything in his stride since breaking into the first team fold, and says the new deal is a deserved pat on the back.

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"I think it's the right thing, it's fair from both sides," said the head coach.

"Hayden has been terrific since I came and the couple of games before that he played really well. That's kind of how it works, you get rewarded for your good work. He fully deserves it. He's been a credit to himself and his family with the way he's handled it.

"He's just stepped in. He's down to earth, he hasn't got carried away and kept doing the same things. That's the challenge for Hayden now: staying on the right track and to keep doing the things that's got him in this position. I don't see why or how he would change, knowing him as a lad. I'm really looking forward to working with him and helping him improve."

Hackney spent last season on loan at Scunthorpe, who suffered relegation from League Two, and wasn't in Chris Wilder's plans at the start of the current campaign. But the Redcar-born midfielder was handed an opportunity by Leo Percovich during his short stint as caretaker boss, and hasn't looked back.

Carrick said: "I watched the games before I came and was well aware of not just Hayden but the other players and what had gone on. I just saw something in Hayden that I really liked. He'd done well in the games and ever since he's been terrific.

"That's the challenge, to keep that shirt, to keep playing well and for the team to keep winning games.

"As a young lad from the area supporting the club, it's what we want. It's what I'm passionate about, supporting the academy and it's a big boost for the academy to have someone fresh in the team.

"Hopefully there'll be another one and another one. It gives the boys in the academy that hope that it's possible."

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