Middlesbrough FC's Massimo Luongo following a list of revered Australian footballers on Teesside

Middlesbrough's latest signing Massimo Luongo, pictured during his time at Sheffield Wednesday. Picture: Steve Ellis.

It is headlined by Craig Johnston, who wrote to Boro in the mid-1970s requesting a trial and after paying his costs to the north east, he eventually persuaded the late Jack Charlton that he was worth persevering with over time.

Fame at the old Ayresome Park and a big-money move to Liverpool later followed and it's fair to say that Boro's latest Aussie in Massimo Luongo has much to live up to.

Several other Antipodeans have excelled at Boro, from Melbourne's Mark Viduka to Luongo's fellow Sydneysider Mark Schwarzer.

Perth's Rhys Williams is among other notables alongside a current player from Adelaide in the shape of Luongo's Socceroos team-mate Riley McGree.

Ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Luongo had a watching brief on Monday as McGree scored the only goal of the game in the Tees-Wear derby win over Sunderland and it whetted his appetite.

Luongo, who has signed a short-term deal initially until January after leaving the Owls in June, said: "It was brilliant. I know Riley really well and he has been showing me around. What a great first game to experience. I was very impressed and the atmosphere was amazing and hopefully I can hit the ground running.

"Going back, I only crossed paths with Mark Schwarzer quite briefly. But he always spoke highly of it (Middlesbrough) and Rhys Williams couldn't speak highly enough of it.

"Riley has shown me around a little bit. He's a lot younger than me, but hopefully I can him out as much as I can, being a fellow Aussie."

Brought primarily as cover after Boro failed to add another midfield option before the transfer deadline and then entered the free agent market, Luongo has vowed to be the proverbial ‘team man’ and wait for his chance.

He continued: "I am just here to help with the guys are already doing. I have been watching the games and following it so far.

"The performances have been well up there and the results probably don't reflect the way they have been playing. I am here to add, help out and, when I am called upon, give my all and that's all I have ever done.”