Australia’s stirring run to the knockout stages of the Qatar World Cup appears to have had an energising, confidence-boosting effect on a handful of Socceroos stars.
Harry Souttar has been one of Leicester City’s few consistent performers in recent weeks. Aaron Mooy has taken on something of a talismanic role at Celtic; pulling the strings under his former national team boss Ange Postecoglou with another Premiership title looming into view.
And, if you were to rank the most in-form midfielders in England’s second tier since the turn of the year, Riley McGree would certainly be in with a shout of a place on the podium. 25-goal top scorer Chuba Akpom may be hogging the headlines at Middlesbrough – and with good reason – but do not underestimate the role McGree has played during Michael Carrick’s Riverside revival; Boro going from relegation candidates to promotion dark horses in the blink of an eye.
Celtic wanted Riley McGree but he chose Middlesbrough instead
“He’s done phenomenally well,” Aussie team-mate Souttar tells FTBL. “The one thing about him that gets overlooked is how good a technical player he is.
“His numbers at the World Cup – distance covered in sprints and stuff, was probably the highest in the team along with Jacko (Jackson Irvine). But technically as player he’s really, really good too.”
It’s that combination of tenacity and technique, of grit and guile, that has made the one-time Birmingham City loanee one of the first names on Carrick’s team-sheet. McGree has eight goals and assists combined in this Championship season. All-but two of those have come since club football returned following Argentina’s World Cup triumph in the Middle East.
McGree turned down Celtic in favour of joining Middlesbrough in January 2022; rejecting the opportunity to reunite with Postecoglou north of the border.
“With all due respect to Celtic and Ange, my ambition is to play in the Premier League,” the Gawler-born 24-year-old told Optus Sports recently. “The position Middlesbrough are in, I feel like it was the best opportunity of getting where I want to be.”
‘Improving all the time’
Six months ago, when Chris Wilder received his P45 with Boro in the relegation zone, McGree would have been forgiven for wondering if he had made a mistake. Now up to third, snapping at Sheffield United’s heels with automatic promotion not out of the question, McGree’s Premier League dreams may be about to become reality.
“Riley is improving all the time. I still think there is a lot to come from him. But he’s been terrific and he’s growing, and he’s developing and improving all the time,” says Carrick, who has won 16 of his 23 games in charge of Middlesbrough (Teesside Live).
“He’s scoring goals and creating them. He just improves game by game. You can see his confidence growing.
“His end product is there now with assists and goals coming more. But his overall influence too with his passing and creating space for others, and his awareness around him. I’m delighted with how he’s going.”
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