Hackney enhanced his reputation with his first goal for England's Under-21s at the start of this week, which came on the back of recent speculation linking Tottenham, Manchester United and Crystal Palace with the Teessider.
Porto made an audacious attempt to try and sign Hackney in the January window but were knocked back by [Boro](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough).
Hackney still has two years left to run on his contract at the Riverside and Boro will be desperate to keep the Redcar-born midfielder, but interest is likely to ramp up this summer if Carrick's side fail to win promotion to the Premier League.
But Carrick said: "It (the speculation) is understandable.
"It comes with the territory of playing for your country at that age group while playing for a club in the league we’re in at the moment.
"It’s only natural and we wouldn’t expect anything else. It’s never distracted him. It’s happened over a period of time really, and it’s never affected him one bit."
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Despite the fact he's only 22, Hackney has already played more than 100 games for Boro and captained his hometown club on several occasions this season.
Carrick said: "I like the fact that he’s not really changed with it either. I made him captain in certain games because of how he plays, how he is, how he takes responsibility.
"He’s very different to others. Luke Ayling’s had it at times and then Jonny (Howson) is the club captain, and they’re all different in how they lead. I think H, it’s more the way he plays the game. He never really gets fazed.
"In a good way, you never really know if it’s going well or not because he just carries on playing and I think that’s a real strength of his to have such belief in himself.
"He’s got a real good presence about him and a calmness that rubs off on others. I think you can see how much all the boys trust him, and it’s a good thing to have at such a young age."
And Hackney's first goal for England's Under-21s was another string to his bow. The midfielder started alongside Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham as Lee Carsley's side beat Portugal 4-2 at the Hawthorns on Monday.
Carrick said: “It’s a step for him to take. It was a goal that highlighted what he’s capable of really, pressing high up the pitch, reading it well and then producing a really nice finish.
"He’s done that a few times for us this season, and been dangerous with that.
"He’s taken really big strides this season in the way he handles himself and how he’s matured.
"I think you can see that on and off the pitch. It’s just a case of keeping moving in the right direction.
"I’m really happy with how he’s going, he’s in a really good place, and scoring for your country makes that even better."