MIDDLESBROUGH'S Hayden Hackney Chelsea plan worked a treat - but Michael Carrick joked that he might now be forced into a rethink with his star midfielder.

Hackney missed 10 games with a groin injury at the end of last season but was desperate to be back fit for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea, so a programme was set-up with that target in mind.

He returned to the starting XI against Aston Villa at the weekend but only played an hour with last night's Chelsea game in mind.

And the plan couldn't have worked out much better for Hackney and Boro, with the Redcar-born 21-year-old scoring the winning goal in the first half that gives Carrick's side the advantage ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

"Honestly, it couldn't happen to a nicer lad," said Carrick.

"He's everything you could ever hope for in a player. He's humble, hard working, hugely talented obviously and he's great to work with. He's the life and soul of this club, as I said last week, and for him to get that goal, he's had his eye on this game, he's been injured for a few weeks and this was the target.

"We set up his plan in getting some minutes on Saturday ready for tonight and he just about got through it in the end."

Hackney has played most of his football in a midfield two for Boro but was pushed forward into a slightly more advanced role off the left against Chelsea

Carrick said: "He's played in a different position tonight, off the left a bit higher up. Maybe I've been playing him in the wrong position because every time he's played off the left he's ended up scoring. That's three or four times now so I might have to look at that."

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The Chelsea winner capped off a memorable few days for the Teessider, who captained Boro against Villa in the FA Cup - and he continues to take it all in his stride.

"That's the type of lad he is," said Carrick.

"He's humble, hard working, down to earth, respectful, you can see what it meant to him when he scored. He's just an absolute joy to have here."

Hackney wasn't alone in shining in the midfield for Boro, with Jonny Howson and Dan Barlaser both key to the home side's success.

Carrick said: "I thought the boys were immense. There was bodies everywhere to deal with, coming off the side, coming off the front, extra midfielders trying to overload the middle, especially at the start.

"They were really disciplined, tactically really smart and showed some real quality and composure in trying to play.

"Dan was fantastic, Jonny, his first semi-final at his age to go and perform like that, when I'm talking about being pride, that's what I mean, seeing players like Jonny getting his rewards.  I have to say, everyone. Everyone had to perform and did and emptied the tank."