MIDDLESBROUGH’S Paddy McNair thinks that Stoke City’s battle for survival in the Championship has been given a huge lift following the appointment of Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill.

Boro still occupy a relegation place and Stoke sit two points behind following a disappointing start to the campaign under Nathan Jones.

But confirmation O’Neill has replaced Jones has led to McNair suggesting that the potters are about to get things right – highlighting the need for Middlesbrough to get going too under Jonathan Woodgate.

“I’m happy for Michael, I think he deserves it, it’s a really good job,” said McNair. “The Stoke owners seem to give managers time and I’ve no doubt Michael will go in there and change it around for them.

“The Championship will suit Michael’s style of play. As you saw on Saturday, Stoke got a very good result against Barnsley (4-1). To be honest I think whatever job Michael got he would do very well.”

O’Neill, the former Shamrock Rovers boss, has been a big fan of McNair since calling him into the international fold and it would be no surprise if he ended up targeting him to move to the Bet365 Stadium.

Stoke still have the financial capability to tinker with their squad because of the Premier League parachute payments they are due after spending more than a decade in the top-flight.

McNair is in his best form since leaving Manchester United for Sunderland in a £5.5m deal in August 2016, and has had an injury-free run in the side under Woodgate.

That has brought a smile to his face again after a troubled first year at the Riverside when he struggled to force his way into the starting line up under Tony Pulis. When he did he tended to be played as a centre-back or wing-back after leaving Sunderland last summer for £5m.

But his performances at club level this season, even though Middlesbrough have struggled to impress, have been reflected in his displays for Northern Ireland – and O’Neill relies heavily on him as part of the set-up.

The 24-year-old will be in the Northern Ireland side that must beat the Netherlands at Windsor Park on Saturday night, when he will be reacquainted with £67m Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong in the middle of the pitch.

De Jong was watched tightly by McNair last month in Rotterdam until the former Ajax playmaker and the Dutch were able to hit a late winner to leave O’Neill’s men behind in the battle for Euros qualification.

The Netherlands head into the return date top of the group, level on points with Germany, with Northern Ireland sitting three points behind and knowing they can’t afford anything else than three points.

“De Jong ’s a great player and I knew before the game I was going to have to get tight to him throughout it,” said McNair.  “In the last 10-15 minutes he did start to dictate play a little bit more so that’s something I’ll have to look into. But I think that was the nature of the game as well, us dropping back and then he was dropping in between (Matthijs) de Ligt and (Virgil) Van Dijk to get the ball. He’s a great player and it was nice to come up against him. Hopefully I can keep him at bay again on Saturday.”

Middlesbrough will return to action on Sunday, November 24 against Hull City at the Riverside looking to improve on a run that has seen them fail to win any of their last nine matches.

A lack of funds to strengthen the squad during the summer has contributed to a difficult first season in charge for Woodgate, and Middlesbrough have often complained to the EFL about rival clubs stretching financial fair play rules.

And it has emerged that Sheffield Wednesday, one of those who formed part of chairman Steve Gibson’s complaints, have vowed to “vigorously defend" EFL charges of breaching such rules.

An EFL statement reads: “Following a formal investigation into financial information provided by Sheffield Wednesday in relation to the club’s 2017/18 profitability and sustainability (P&S) submission, the EFL has today issued a number of charges relating to alleged breaches of EFL Rules.

“Earlier this year the EFL launched an investigation into the club’s financial submission for the period ending July 2018 under the relevant P&S Rules following the completion of the sale of Hillsborough Stadium.

“The EFL has reviewed a large number of documents obtained from the club as part of this process and concluded there is sufficient evidence to justify issuing charges of misconduct.

“The charges are in respect of a number of allegations regarding the process of how and when the stadium was sold and the inclusion of the profits in the 2017/18 accounts.”

But the Owls responded with this: “Sheffield Wednesday note the statement issued today by the EFL and the charges contained within.  These charges will be vigorously defended and the club will be making no further comment at this time.”

Middlesbrough have demanded greater scrutiny and are known to have urged the EFL to investigate stadium sales at Derby, Aston Villa and Reading too.

The row with Derby in particular led to Middlesbrough chiefs sending a legal letter to the Rams on the eve of last term’s play-off final with Aston Villa outlining their intention to sue.  Middlesbrough also warned they were ready to take action against the EFL to force them to uphold their own rules.