Iron striker Paul Hayes says he and partner Gary Hooper received the toughest work-out of their careers when they faced Middlesbrough duo Robert Huth and David Wheater on Tuesday night.

United performed impressively against the former Premier League side, and Hayes says the form shown against them bodes well when United when visit Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

"Middlesbrough's centre halves are worth at least £5-6 million," Hayes told the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

"Realistically, me and Hoops have played against the two best centre halves we've come up against in our careers.

"They are both very good players who read our game well. They had done their homework on us because the little one-twos we like to play never came off.

"That's why they were a Premier League club and we if we want to try and get better, we have to match that.

"We know that we have to be able to change our game a bit more, but it's been a good experience for us."