Middlesbrough: Old Trafford footage a reminder of how lucky Hayden Hackney, Aidan Morris are - View | OneFootball

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick's virtuoso display in a recent legends match show just how fortunate his players are to be learning from him.

They say class is permanent, and central midfielders rarely come much smoother than Michael Carrick, whose trophy-laden time with Manchester United between 2006 and 2018 proved testament to his talents and consistency as a player.

The Middlesbrough boss took part in a legends' match between Manchester United and Celtic at Old Trafford recently, proving he's still got it, and showing just how fortunate some of his Boro youngsters are to be learning from a former great.

Joining the likes of Wayne Rooney - who Carrick will face in the dugout this season when his side meets his former teammate's Plymouth Argyle team in December's Championship clash - Ronnie Johnsen, Mikaël Silvestre, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, and Dimitar Berbatov, the 43-year-old turned back the clock to wow over 33,000 supporters inside the Theatre of Dreams during the 1-1 draw.

Rooney took the headlines by curling in a sublime free-kick before United ultimately lost on penalties, but Carrick, who was named captain for the afternoon, put on a sterling all-round midfield display reminiscent of his heyday.

Some of the footage from the weekend's game shows the former West Ham United youngster pulling the strings in his ever-calm manner, demonstrating just how lucky the likes of Hayden Hackney, Aidan Morris, and Daniel Barlaser are to be learning from the five-time Premier League winner on a daily basis at the Riverside Stadium

Hackney and Morris can go on to achieve great things

Englishman Hackney and American Morris, both 22 years old, are both typical modern-day deep-lying midfielders, with their respective attributes and relative experience at a youthful age standing them in good stead to have a long career towards the higher levels of the game.

Morris joined the Teessiders from Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew in the summer, signing a four-year deal with the Championship club having made nearly 100 senior appearances in his nation's top flight.

Redcar-born Hackney came through the Boro youth system and has already amassed 73 games for the club, as well as making 31 appearances for then League Two side Scunthorpe United during a loan spell in the 2021/22 season.

While the former has six senior caps for the States already, the latter has five England Under-21 caps to his name, marking both players out as having great pedigree and the potential to have glittering careers.

The pair, who work well in tandem at the base of Carrick's Middlesbrough midfield, have a great blend of technique, vision, physicality and tenacity.

Now working under a manager who, during his playing days not too long ago, reached the very pinnacle of the game and stayed there for many years will only help their development as they continue to make the transition from talented youngsters into more senior professionals; and who knows the heights they'll reach under the guidance of one of English football's best midfielders this century.

Manchester United fans jokingly request Carrick's return

Manchester United have drifted away from their place at the very top table of English football in recent years, with their City neighbours, Liverpool and old foes Arsenal overtaking them in the pecking order.

This, along with ownership issues, poor recruitment, and multiple managers, has led to fan frustration of late.

Many wish for a return to the glory days, that of Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham, Andy Cole, Scholes, Carrick, and many, many more.

The latter's performance in the recent legends game led to some fans semi-jokingly stating that Carrick, long retired and now approaching his mid-forties, would still be preferable to some of Ten Hag's side's current options in an inconsistent engine room.