Middlesbrough FC transfer picture could drastically change given Hayden Hackney situation | OneFootball

Dan Barlaser may have been a candidate for a potential January transfer, but given Hackney's injury news, that may well have changed...

Middlesbrough midfielder Dan Barlaser may have been a potential transfer candidate in the January transfer window, but injury blows to Hayden Hackney and Aidan Morris may well have changed that.

Hackney has returned to Teesside to be fully assessed by Middlesbrough's medical team at Rockliffe Park, after withdrawing from the England Under-21 camp ahead of last Friday's 0-0 draw with Spain.

As for Morris, the US international has remained in the States in order to undergo a full array of tests and assessments after suffering a "knee sprain" in training, with the timetable for his return to the North East not yet known.

Understandably then, Boro boss Michael Carrick appears set to be without his excellent central midfield duo for Saturday's game against Oxford United at the least, and that would surely hand Barlaser a big opportunity to prove his worth to Middlesbrough ahead of the January window.

Hackney and Morris had resigned Barlaser to a backup role

After joining Middlesbrough from Rotherham United in January 2023, Barlaser would establish himself as a regular in Carrick's starting XI last season, making 41 appearances across all competitions.

However, after spending five months of the 2023/24 season injured, Hackney returned to full fitness for the start of the current campaign, and reclaimed his starting role from Barlaser in the heart of Boro's midfield.

Middlesbrough also went out and signed Morris from Columbus Crew in the summer, and through the first quarter of the season, the 23-year-old has been one of the Championship's outstanding central midfielders.

Boro's dynamic midfield maestros complement each other's game incredibly well, with Morris being the metronome in the middle, seldom seen giving the ball away, whilst Hackney provides more of the attacking threat.

As a result of their excellent performances, they've simply become undroppable for Carrick and have resigned Barlaser to a backup role alongside the evergreen Jonny Howson so far this term.

Barlaser will now surely get his chance to prove his worth to Boro

However, after coming off the bench to score his first Middlesbrough goal against QPR on 5 November, Barlaser reminded everyone of a Boro persuasion what he can still offer.

That was potentially crucial for him too, as the 27-year-old has been moving closer and closer to becoming a forgotten man but with Morris and Hackney seemingly set for a spell on the sidelines, now may well be one of his last big chances to secure his long-term future at the Riverside.

The summer transfer window could've marked the end of his Boro career as well, as Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor were heavily linked with a move for him, but ultimately, nothing ever materialised.

Carrick may well now be thanking his lucky stars that nothing came of that reported interest from Turkey, as his strength in depth in the centre of midfield aside from Hackney, Morris, and Barlaser isn't particularly notable.

36-year-old club captain Howson is the only other natural senior option the Middlesbrough head coach can turn to in that position, with academy youngsters Law McCabe and Fin Cartwright being the next apparent players in the pecking order.

The Championship season is always packed with twists and turns, and now might just be the chance for Barlaser to wrestle back his Middlesbrough future, and make himself indispensable to Carrick ahead of the January transfer window.