Middlesbrough and Hull City will contest the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, following the expulsion of Southampton from the promotion tournament due to a spying scandal.
According to reports from the Guardian and Sky Sports, an English Football League disciplinary commission disqualified Southampton for filming a closed Middlesbrough training session.
>>> White Sox Rout Giants with Nine-Run Fourth Inning
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert sent an intern analyst to secretly record Middlesbrough's pre-match tactics. The club received a four-point deduction for next season alongside the postseason ban.
Middlesbrough's Path to the Final
Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg confirmed that star midfielder Hayden Hackney has recovered from a calf injury sustained in March and is available for the match.
"Hayden's ready for Wembley," said Hellberg.
The Swedish manager noted that preparing the squad became difficult due to the emotional toll and scheduling uncertainties surrounding the disciplinary appeals.
"It's still a question of how ready but he's part of our attempt to solve the puzzle set by Hull," Hellberg added.
Hellberg spent the preceding weekend in Stockholm with his family to escape the pressure. He received confirmation of the final lineup while dining at Rockliffe Hall.
"The head is tired," admitted Hellberg. Middlesbrough players reacted with intense excitement on their group communications once the final spot was secured.
"There's been a lot of emotion," said Hellberg. The team is now focusing heavily on tactical preparation after a period of disrupted training sessions.
"I haven't been able to sleep," admitted Hellberg.
