Middlesbrough v Reading: Arrival of Riley McGree is further signal of intent
AS someone who enjoys his cricket, Chris Wilder will not want to meet too many Australians at the minute.
As far as Riley McGree is concerned, the Boro chief is happy to make the midfielder an honourable exception.
Boro have won the race to sign the Socceroos international from MLS side FC Charlotte and his arrival is a further statement of intent in a January which has already seen two young Premier League strikers in Flo Balogun and Aaron Connolly join on loan.
Left-back Neil Taylor has also signed an extended contract to add to the feel-good factor on Teesside, with Boro seeking to round off another productive week by continuing their good form at home to Reading today.
On bringing in McGree, also a target of Celtic, Wilder said: “We’ve beaten off strong competition to get him and we’ve known about this player for a long time.
“We talk about the cricket and we’re bringing an Aussie in and (Friday) morning might have actually been the first time I could have given him a bit of stick!
“But I think from that, you understand the mentality of Australian sportspeople and I understand after speaking to him what makes him tick. He’s ambitious, he’s aggressive, he wants to do well and he’s a winner.”
Alongside inward recruitment, Wilder is also conscious of the need to balance the books and has made the trio of Uche Ikpeazu, Marcus Browne – linked with Sheffield United – and James Lea-Siliki available for transfer.
Another who was free to leave in loanee Onel Hernandez has returned to parent club Norwich City and subsequently been loaned straight back out to another Championship outfit Birmingham City.
Ikpeazu has been linked with a return to former club Wycombe along with Millwall.