AS Hayden Hackney leaped onto an advertising hoarding to celebrate his goal at the Hawthorns on Tuesday night, it was impossible not to think back to another Middlesbrough forward celebrating in similar style a couple of seasons ago.

Chuba Akpom made a habit of clambering up the advertising boards as he embarked on the remarkable scoring run that would eventually see him finish the 2022-23 campaign as the Championship’s leading goalscorer and earn him a lucrative summer move to Ajax.

While Hackney has claimed two goals in his last two matches, no one is suggesting the central-midfielder will finish the current campaign at the top of the Championship scoring charts. By channelling his inner Akpom, though, he is hoping his current hot streak will continue at Watford this weekend.

“Was it (the celebration) like anyone? Maybe Chuba,” said Hackney, who followed up his long-range screamer against Stoke City at the weekend with the clinical first-time finish that beat West Brom. “He did that a couple of seasons ago.

“It was a great feeling, and that’s just what came out. I always say that it’s my dream to play for Boro. Being able to celebrate like that in front of the fans is amazing. Can I make it three in three at Watford? I hope so.”

Hackney has plenty of strings to his bow, but up until now, he has not really been a regular goalscorer. Prior to the last two matches, he had scored five goals in 75 senior outings in a Boro shirt. In the last week, he is two goals from two, evidence of both an increased confidence in front of goal and the effectiveness of the extra work he has been doing on the training ground.

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The 22-year-old has been doing extra shooting sessions with first-team coach Grant Leadbitter, and the early evidence suggests the pair’s efforts are proving effective.

“Riley’s (McGree) rolled the ball to me, perfectly weighted, and I just tried to hit the target,” said Hackney. “Obviously, it’s gone in the bottom corner. I’ve got myself to the edge of the box, and it’s what I’ve been working on, finishing, with Grant. I’ve been working on that after training, and it’s paid off.”

Hackney’s 73rd-minute winner was a fitting reward for Boro’s overall dominance at the Hawthorns, with the Teessiders outplaying a West Brom side that had started the evening at the top of the table.

“We knew it was going to be tough,” said Hackney. “They’re a good team. We had to defend at times, but I think we only allowed them to have the ball where we wanted them to have it.

“We didn’t really let them hurt us. Obviously, the last ten minutes, they put a lot of pressure on, sticking their centre-half up top. But, overall, I think we defended the box pretty well.

“I felt like we created the better chances. Obviously, it’s different when you’re playing in the game than if you’re watching it, but I felt we had good chances in the first half – Riley had one on the edge of the box and we had a few headers too. I think we had the better chances overall.”

Having claimed back-to-back wins for the first time this season, Boro have climbed into a play-off position ahead of this weekend’s trip to Vicarage Road.

“We’re all positive about this season, and obviously the results are coming now, which helps,” said Hackney, in an interview with BBC Radio Tees. “I think we have been working towards this because the performances have been coming a bit. We’ve had some ups and downs, but I think it’s really starting to come together.”

Hackney has formed a new central-midfield partnership with summer signing Aidan Morris this season, with the pair dovetailing effectively throughout Tuesday’s game.

“I think me and Aidan have built a pretty good partnership,” he said. “We’re starting to understand each other a lot more now, and I’m really enjoying it.”