Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has spoken highly of Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney ahead of the two sides’ clash on Friday night, praising the player’s talent following Ipswich’s failed attempt to sign him during the summer transfer window.

The return of Championship football sees Middlesbrough host the Tractor Boys at the Riverside Stadium in a fixture filled with intriguing storylines — one of which centres on Hackney, a player long linked with a move away from Teesside.

The 23-year-old has been the subject of ongoing transfer speculation stretching back well before Rob Edwards took charge of Boro in June, following Michael Carrick’s departure. Despite strong interest from multiple clubs, Hackney chose to stay with his boyhood side, where he’s once again played a key role in an encouraging start to the season.

Boro, however, enter the fixture looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth — their first loss under Edwards — which left them with just one win in their last five matches. Ipswich, on the other hand, arrive in excellent form after extending their unbeaten run to five games with a 3-1 victory over rivals Norwich City.

Ahead of the matchup, McKenna was asked about his admiration for Hackney — a player who very nearly became an Ipswich man in the summer.

Back in July, reports claimed that Ipswich had tabled a £20 million bid for Hackney, offering him a £35,000-per-week contract in what would have been a Championship record transfer. Middlesbrough were said to have accepted the offer, but the midfielder ultimately turned down the move, opting to remain at the Riverside. Since then, Premier League sides such as Fulham, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the England youth international.

When asked about the saga, McKenna didn’t shy away from his admiration.

“It’s obvious he’s a really good player — one of the best at this level,” McKenna said. “Every transfer window, you look at a number of players who fit what you’re trying to build. Some deals happen, some don’t, and some never become public. But we’re really happy with how our midfield has developed.”

McKenna went on to praise the depth in his current squad, highlighting the progress of new arrivals Jens Cajuste and Azor Matusiwa, as well as Marcelino Nunez, Jack Taylor, and academy product Cameron Humphreys.

“Jens is adapting well to the division, and Azor and Marcelino are still settling into the club,” McKenna added. “When you look at the options we’ve got, there’s real balance and strength there — if we can keep everyone fit, we’ll be a very competitive side.”

While missing out on Hackney was a disappointment, Ipswich’s current midfield looks well-equipped to challenge any Championship team. Cajuste and Matusiwa have quickly struck up a solid partnership, and Nunez has already shown glimpses of creativity and flair following his move from Norwich City.

With Ipswich finding form and sitting just a handful of points behind Middlesbrough, Friday’s encounter could be a real statement opportunity for McKenna’s men — and another reminder of why Hackney was so firmly on their radar in the first place.