Hellberg 'always comfortable' Hackney would staypublished at 15:19 GMT 5 February
15:19 GMT 5 February
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Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg says he was never worried Hayden Hackney would leave the Championship club in the January transfer window.
Boro rejected Nottingham Forest's deadline-day bid for the midfielder with Hellberg delighted to retain the services of the 23-year-old.
"I actually felt quite comfortable with him (still) being here," the Swede told BBC Radio Tees.
"The discussions were he wants to be here, you can see he wants to be here, wants to achieve here this year and wants to play here for a long time.
"I was never worried about him going anywhere - I put my belief in him so I was not so worried about that one."
Middlesbrough signed forwards Jeremy Sarmiento and Leo Castledine last month as well as registering defender Adilson Malanda and adding full-back Finley Munroe and goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith.
But Hellberg has also pointed to hanging on to Newcastle loanee Matt Targett as a key component to their promotion push.
"I wasn't always confident as we didn't control that one - they could always recall him if they got more injuries so it was always a worry but now they cannot recall him so I'm very happy about that," he added.
Sarmiento to deliver 'X-factor' for Boropublished at 16:58 GMT 4 February
16:58 GMT 4 February
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With four wins on the bounce drawing them level with a faltering Coventry at the top it is now going to come down to who has "the X-factor" according to EFL pundit Jobi McAnuff.
In the latest edition of the BBC's 72+ EFL podcast, the former Reading midfielder believes that in Jeremy Sarmiento they may have signed a player who can get them over the line.
Sarmiento was a key component of the Burnley side promoted last season and was one of three signings to join during the window with the Ecuador international coming on loan from Brighton.
Leo Castledine signed from Chelsea after catching the eye on loan at Huddersfield with Finlay Munroe joining from Aston Villa's U21 squad.
While Sarmiento has yet to make his debut for Kim Hellberg's side. when he does McAnuff is in no doubt he will bring a "bit of magic" to Boro's promotion push.
"You look at the fact that he has been in teams that have been promoted – that is the first real tick," said McAnuff.
"He is capable of those moments of magic which again down the stretch there are going to be some tight games.
"You are not going to steamroller teams between now and the end of the season. So have you got that little bit of impact off the bench? We have seen him now on so many occasions that dip inside and whip one into the top corner.
"So for me that one makes sense in terms of a bit of X-factor, bit of knowhow, come in and really join the group which is full of life and full of energy at the moment and really flying."
'Best moves were the ones that didn't happen'published at 11:53 GMT 3 February
11:53 GMT 3 February
Mark Drury BBC Radio Tees' Middlesbrough commentator
Image source, Getty Images
It was a quiet end to the transfer window at Middlesbrough where the most important moves may prove to be the ones that didn't happen.
Hayden Hackney remains a Boro player despite late Premier League interest from Nottingham Forest.
Forest made two bids for the 23-year-old over the final 48 hours of the window but neither came remotely close to forcing Boro to seriously consider their position.
To lose their driving force in midfield at a time when Boro are second in the table would have been a massive own goal for two reasons.
Firstly, in the view of many experienced judges, Hackney has developed into one of the best, if not the best, central midfielders in the Championship this season.
He had clearly made a step up under Rob Edwards at the start of this season and now Kim Hellberg seems to have unlocked even more of his potential with Hackney marauding around the park, breaking up attacks, leading the charge forward and scoring spectacular goals.
Secondly, this season is Boro's best chance of winning promotion in a decade. What message would selling Hackney have given to a fanbase thirsting for a return to the Premier League, let alone Hellberg's squad?
The other man fans are thankful remains on Teesside is Matt Targett. There was a real concern Newcastle would recall their on-loan full-back because of a defensive injury crisis at St James' Park.
Targett has been outstanding for Boro this season and has helped them through a defensive crisis of their own, filling in at centre-half at a time when there wasn't a single fit central defender at the club.
Boro freshened up their attack in the window with the arrivals of Jeremy Sarmiento and Leo Castledine, while Finley Munroe is a long-term bet at left-back. Perhaps the biggest plus of the window was getting Adilson Malanda registered, six months after signing him from Charlotte FC (Boro had to immediately loan him back under the terms of the deal).
The defender has become an immediate fixture at the heart of the defence and has looked completely unflappable to date.
Fans' concerns will revolve around the failure to sign a striker. Boro had initial discussions with Southampton over a move for Adam Armstrong. The striker was keen on a move back to his native North East but as soon as Wolverhampton Wanderers stepped in, Boro knew they were about to become embroiled in a bidding war they could never hope to win and withdrew.
The loan departures of Delano Burgzorg and Abdoulaye Kante seem unlikely to damage the promotion push.
The key to the season will be whether Hellberg can get the best out of Tommy Conway and fit again David Strelec, while keeping the pair of them in shape for the last 16 games of the season.
Do that, and Boro may well be celebrating a return to the top flight come the start of May.