Pallister: Key pair will put Boro in promotion picture

GARY Pallister believes Middlesbrough can be serious promotion contenders this season if they manage to keep Hayden Hackney and Aidan Morris at the club beyond the January transfer window.

- CRAIG JOHNS

Boro have enjoyed a great start to the season under new boss Rob Edwards. With four wins and a draw in their five games so far, they are the early pacesetters at the top of the Championship table.

Defensively they've improved immeasurably from recent seasons and have conceded just three goals so far, but in front of the defence, their central midfield is taking a lot of deserved plaudits. Benefiting from the new gameplan under Edwards, Hackney and Morris are bossing almost every game so far.