Hackney: I'm starting to settle in

On-loan midfielder Hayden Hackney is enjoying his loan spell with the Iron away from parent club Middlesbrough, and is looking to kick-on after experiencing his first win last time out.

The 19-year-old has made a total of nine appearances for the club since arriving on August Transfer Deadline Day, including starts in each of the last three games.

Speaking to iFollow Iron ahead of the away league encounter against Colchester United, he said: “It felt good last week, and I think it had been coming.

“We put on a good performance against Forest Green, and another good performance at Barrow, but we didn’t get the win. I thought we deserved it at the weekend, and we have to push on and try to get another win on Saturday.

“We’ve been putting on some good, solid performances, and we’ve been unlucky.”

The three points against John Yems’ men culminated a positive trio of performances for the side, which began with a controversial defeat against the league leaders before picking up four points from six.

That boost in points, and the confidence gained from a second league win of the season has been vital, according to Hackney: “It’s been massive. We’re all together, and we all think we can push on now and climb the table. 

“We’re really coming together, we’re defending as a team, and we’re creating some good chances. We want to be more clinical with those chances.”

Colchester were on the wrong end of a 3-1 home defeat against EFL new boys Sutton United in midweek, with the Us sitting just three points ahead of the Iron in the league standings.

Victory for Scunthorpe would eliminate that gap, and Hackney feels as though a continuation of performances would give the side the best possible opportunity of registering back-to-back wins.

“It’s an opportunity to go there and get three points,” he stated. 

“They’re down there in the table like we are. It’ll be a tough game, like they all are, but I think we can go there and get the three points.”

The Redcar-born midfielder reflected on his stay in North Lincolnshire so far, as he comes towards his second month in claret and blue.

Having started the last three league games, Hackney is hoping for more of the same, with the results to continue to follow suit: “I’m enjoying it. I’m getting a bit more game time now, and I’m starting to settle in. 

“Hopefully I can continue that. It’s been tough, and once you get your chance, you have to show what you can do. I’ve had time to show what I can do, so hopefully that can continue, and the results keep coming.

“There’s more to come from me, definitely. On the ball, I can do more, but I’m enjoying it at the moment. (Tom) Pughy is the holding midfielder and it gives Myles (Hippolyte) and myself license to get ahead and create a bit more, which is good.

“One of the Boro coaches came to Barrow to give me some feedback, which is good for my development. It’s much better than Under-23s football, and it’s definitely making me a better player - especially on the other side of the game. It’s not just on the ball, it’s off the ball, winning second balls and then getting the ball down and playing.”

See much more from Hayden Hackney and Neil Cox on iFollow Iron.