WITH just two days to go until the Championship season, Riley McGree has been harping back to January to the time when he signed on the dotted line for Middlesbrough. 

After a tug of war between Boro and Celtic, it was the red of Teesside that won the battle for the Australian’s signature with manager Chris Wilder and the recruitment team hell bent on adding him to the squad. The big reason behind that decision was a major desire to be in the top flight of English football, something he could realistically see happening with Boro.

With the standards set and the demands high for the forthcoming campaign, McGree’s mantra has not changed. “Personally I am ambitious and as a club we are definitely ambitious” he told The Northern Echo.

Promotion to the Premier League is something that a determined manager in Wilder and a squad full of his players, including McGree, are gunning for this season. “From the guys upstairs to every one of the staff and players, we want to get into the Premier League and we’re ambitious. That is where we are aiming at. Let’s see where we are at this season.”

Speaking outside a newly opened Teesside Hospice Charity Shop in Yarm where he was invited to cut the ribbon, there seems to be no regrets about the choice McGree made to choose Teesside over a move to the Scottish Champions where he was offered the opportunity to link up with Aussie boss Ange Postecoglu. It’s more or less been a seamless transition both on and off the pitch with the 23-year-old set to play a key role this season. 

“It’s been quite easy and really fluid” he continued: “The people are really kind and welcoming. The town and the place, especially here in Yarm, is quite calm. There is a bit going on but there is also not a lot going on so it’s been great. You can dibble and dabble.” The perfect on environment for a footballer to be in? “Yeah I think so” he responded. Very little room for excuses off the pitch then.

As for matters on it, McGree still has his best years ahead of him at the age of 23 and there has been plenty of faith placed in the technically gifted midfielder who has three years left on his current deal on Teesside. 

Wilder has confidence that McGree was one of the key ingredients missing from his side last season and managed to filter him into the side towards the back end of last season where he ended up with 11 appearances and two goals to his name. 

Throughout pre-season, he’s been trusted in the number ten role just behind the striker in the absence of a trusted forward in the manager, something that is a home from home for McGree. But there is no preference in his book when it comes to playing for Boro as he added: “I think whatever position I’m required in all over the pitch, I am going to give it my best and give it my all. Whatever will be, will be. I just go out there every game and try and give my all for the team and for myself and see what happens.  

“I played a little bit of everywhere at Birmingham. A bit more advanced or attacking. I am familiar with it because I played a little bit there growing up in my youth. (But I’m) happy to be anywhere. Happy to play for this club would be an understatement so anywhere is good.”

Playing in the number ten position would place more responsibility on his shoulders to get more goals for next season for a team that was severely lacking goalscoring potency last season. 

BBC Radio Tees Sport Boro summariser Neil Maddison set a bold target for McGree and the other midfielders in the squad to be aiming for between 8-10 goals this season. A fair target? McGree agrees. “That would be great” he responded. 

“I think we are more than capable all three of us and going forward, we have to be ambitious and we have to have those goals as a midfield. Even Jonny Howson has to get in there and get involved but whoever plays needs to score and contribute from the midfield. We can’t just rely on those at the top of the pitch.”

Not only are the standards being set by those at the top of the club but by McGree himself. After a pre-season trip to Portugal and the hard yards being put in, he eludes a confidence within the camp heading into their season opener against West Brom in just two days time with the weight of expectation behind them.

The Australian international added: “We have a big understanding in the group and we want to have a strong and tight knit squad and that comes from the top. Off the pitch if you’re great then on the pitch you hopefully will replicate that greatness.”