HAYDEN Hackney is being assessed by Middlesbrough's medical team after leaving the England Under-21 camp and returning to Rockliffe due to injury.

Hackney left Ben Futcher's squad prior to their 0-0 draw with Spain on Friday night. The midfielder won't be involved when England take on the Netherlands on Monday and is instead back on Teesside being closely assessed.

At this stage details of the injury are not known, but it's another concern for Boro, who are also anxiously waiting to discover the severity of Aidan Morris's knee problem.

Morris suffered what was described in the United States as a knee sprain in training with his national team this week and didn't travel with the squad to Jamaica for their game on Thursday evening.

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Morris was initially being monitored and treated in the States after suffering the injury before heading back to Teesside, and will be closely assessed by Boro this week.

Hackney withdrew from the England Under-21 squad for last month's get-together, but that decision was made as a precaution and the 22-year-old was fit to play against Bristol City in the first game back after the break.

The Teessider has started every game he's been available for this season, only sitting out the win at QPR through suspension after his sending off against Coventry City.

Michael Carrick has Jonny Howson and Dan Barlaser to call on in midfield but Hackney and Morris have established themselves as Boro's first choice pair this season and it would be a major blow if either faced any sort of spell on the sidelines.