MICHAEL CARRICK feels the arrival of Aidan Morris has helped spur Hayden Hackney on to even greater heights in the opening couple of months of the season.

Morris joined Middlesbrough from MLS side Columbus Crew in the summer, further strengthening a midfield unit that was already one of the strongest in the Championship.

The American has formed a midfield partnership with Hackney in the early stages of the campaign, and while the former caught the eye in the first few games of the season, the latter has really burst into life in the last couple of matches.

Having scored his first goal of the season via a long-range screamer against Stoke at the weekend, Hackney followed up with a clinically-taken match-winner at West Brom last night.

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The 22-year-old has been developing nicely for the last couple of seasons, but Carrick is hoping Morris will help him take his game to an even higher level.

“I just think that’s part of training every day with good players,” said the Boro boss. “And that’s the beauty of having such a good squad. At some point, the other lads will play too.

“Every day. they’re all training at such a high level and without even necessarily realising it, you improve very quickly. There is good, healthy competition in the midfield. They can all play together.

“At the moment, Hayden and Aidan have got a really healthy partnership going and they feed off each other, which is good to watch. The way they controlled the game (at West Brom), in and out of possession, was impressive.”

Hackney was the Man of The Match as Boro became the first visiting team to win at the Hawthorns this season, combining an energetic dominance of the heart of midfield with a high degree of creativity.

He held his composure superbly to score the winner, stroking a crisp side-footed finish into the bottom left-hand corner after a pass infield from Riley McGree.

“He’s (Hackney) adding to his game all the time,” said Carrick. “He’s coming into it and having a good spell at the moment, as you can see. That level of confidence and personality… he doesn’t say a lot, but he shows a level of personality when he’s on the pitch.

“We’re trying to help him improve all the time. I think as a midfielder it can be dangerous to chase goals and chase the next opportunity. It’s something he can definitely chip in with, and he has done with two important goals. But I think the chances come from good play.

“A big part of our game is controlling the midfield and him and Aidan - as well as Dan (Barlaser), Jonny (Howson) or Law (McCabe), whoever plays in there - have to make decision-making so important.

“When to play that extra progressive pass, take the shot on or control the game. I thought they got their decisions spot on. He then arrives at the right time and gets his goal, coming off the back of some really good play.”