Middlesbrough interim manager Adi Viveash is confident that Riley McGree has the potential to play a pivotal role for the club this season, now that the Australian midfielder has finally returned to full fitness. On his first day at Boro, Viveash shared a clear message with McGree, reflecting both his respect for the player’s talent and his belief in what he can contribute.
McGree has endured a difficult two years at Middlesbrough, plagued by injuries that have disrupted his rhythm and limited his appearances. Speaking while on international duty recently, he opened up about those struggles and expressed hope of putting those frustrating periods behind him. He made his first start of the season during Boro’s victory over Birmingham and subsequently started for Australia during the international break.
Although Viveash has had limited opportunity to work closely with McGree due to his pre-season injury, he drew on his prior knowledge of the 27-year-old’s abilities to deliver an encouraging first-day message. “I told Riley from day one that he was always the kind of player who frustrated me whenever he played against our teams because of the timing of his runs,” Viveash explained. “I’ve worked with players like that before, such as Jamie Allen at Coventry, who had that ability to arrive in dangerous spaces. Riley has that in abundance. He’s one of the best at it I’ve seen.”
Viveash highlighted McGree’s technical skills and his knack for scoring and assisting goals from midfield, which make him an incredibly valuable asset. “It’s been a challenging period for him, but he was exceptional in pre-season, probably the standout performer in those first couple of weeks,” Viveash said. “I’d seen his quality before, and Rob [Edwards] had coached against him, but being up close really shows how well he finds space and his technical ability. He can score, create, and be a major factor in matches.”
The manager admitted that injuries have interrupted McGree’s progress. He singled out the Birmingham game as an example, where McGree was outstanding in the first 20 minutes but struggled when the team had to change shape due to other injuries. “I felt for him because he started brilliantly, and we had built our strategy around him. He was very elusive, exactly as we hoped, and he could become a key player for us alongside others at the club,” Viveash added.
Looking ahead, Viveash emphasized the importance of consistent training to help McGree stay fit and maintain performance levels. “We need to ensure Riley can train consistently because that will allow him to play more matches. The more game time he gets, the fitter he becomes, and the more he contributes to Middlesbrough’s results,” he said.
McGree’s return to club action against Birmingham and subsequent start for Australia in the loss to Colombia marked his first appearances this calendar year. He returned to Teesside late this week, but with an important clash against Coventry City approaching midweek, it remains to be seen whether he will be risked this weekend.
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