Southampton and Middlesbrough will face off in the second leg of the play-offs on Tuesday after a 0-0 draw at The Riverside, with Boro without Hayden Hackney since mid-March in a 1-1 draw with Bristol City.

This season, the midfielder has routinely acted as captain and was named Championship Player of the Season for his efforts in a Middlesbrough shirt. He has the ability to set the pace of games for Kim Hellberg’s team.

The 23-year-old has been important for his boyhood club this season, but he suffered a calf injury in Boro’s tie with Bristol City in mid-March and has not played since.

Boro have won twice and drawn five of their last nine games without Hackney. He was not there for the 0-0 draw against the Saints following the Spygate controversy, which means he could have played his final game for Boro if he does not play tomorrow night.

Hayden Hackney anticipated to miss the Southampton vs Middlesbrough play-off.

Hackney’s value to Middlesbrough cannot be overstated, even with Aidan Morris and Riley McGree present. In many respects, Teesside fans will be hopeful they haven’t seen the last of him in club colours.

Boro had hoped Hackney would return in some manner this week. However, with him not even on their bench on Saturday, it has always been unlikely that he will participate in either of these play-off matches.

Hull City or Millwall will be in the final, but could Hackney play a role before that? Or will he sit out the leg against St. Mary’s on Tuesday night?

According to writer Alfie House on X (previously Twitter), Kim Hellberg has confirmed that Hackney would miss Middlesbrough’s second leg against Southampton tomorrow night.

With the final in just over two weeks, he could return for that game. However, Boro’s prospects of making the final without him must be deemed lower for such a key player.

Middlesbrough supporters know Hayden Hackney is needed for the play-off final at Wembley.

Hackney is as important to Hellberg’s Middlesbrough team as he was under Michael Carrick before him. That domineering approach, combined with a footballer who can influence tempo, split lines with progressive passes, and receive possession under pressure, makes him the heartbeat of Boro’s build-up.

Few Championship midfielders can constantly combine technical quality and composure like Hackney. Arguably none do, which is why, regardless of whether Middlesbrough is promoted, he believes he is destined to play in the Premier League this summer.

Half the division will keep a close eye on him, especially since his contract expires in 2027. That makes Middlesbrough vulnerable to cashing in now, as they will lose substantial power when he approaches the last year of his contract. If he has played his final game for Hackney, it is a great shame for both the club and its supporters.

The positive element is that beating Southampton might lead to Hackney returning for the final, sending the club up, and signing new long-term deals. That is undoubtedly the perspective Boro fans will be looking for with a big night ahead of them tomorrow.