Rob Edwards says Hayden Hackney made him proud with the maturity he showed during a challenging summer, as he prepares to come up against the side he turned down in the transfer window.

The Teessider could have easily been lining up against Boro on Friday evening when Ipswich Town visit the Riverside. Boro did accept an offer from the Tractor Boys for the midfield star, but Hackney made the decision to turn that move down and ultimately remained at Boro beyond the transfer window deadline.

While there was still some speculation surrounding the 23-year-old and a potential Premier League exit until the window closed, Edwards felt comfortable in putting him straight back into the Boro side after his Ipswich decision, and he’s been a key player since. As well as his quality, he’s shown a

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