Nottingham Forest scouting England U21 star who swapped national teams and is starring in Championship • Repithwin News

NOTTINGHAM FOREST transfer chief Ross Wilson checked on Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney playing for England Under-21s.

Midfielder Hackney — who opted for England after winning Scotland caps — has caught the eye.

GettyNottingham Forest are plotting a swoop for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney[/caption]

And the 21-year-old impressed again in this week’s 3-0 win over Northern Ireland.

Hackney spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan in League Two at Scunthorpe United.

However, it was last season that he eventually made his big breakthrough.

He became a key man in the middle of the park as Boro climbed from the relegation zone to finish in the play-offs under Michael Carrick.

Hackney is now one of the first names on the team-sheet for his hometown club.

We first revealed back in September that Forest were targeting the Boro ace as they look to add more domestic players.

Wilson watched him live in action back then and now Forest could move in January or even wait until the summer.

Meanwhile, Forest’s Under-21’s EFL Trophy clash at Accrington was watched by FIFTEEN clubs from the Premier League down.

Some of the Forest squad could go out on loan in January.

And the likes of Swedish striker Julian Larsson and French winger Ateef Konate both have admirers.