RILEY McGREE is delighted to be part of a growing Australian contingent at Middlesbrough, and is hoping the club’s latest recruits from Down Under will live up to the exploits of some of their illustrious predecessors.

While McGree was the only Aussie on Boro’s books last season, he now finds himself as part of a trio of his countrymen who are playing their trade on Teesside.

Goalkeeper Tom Glover joined Boro from Melbourne City earlier this summer, with winger Sammy Silvera having joined him at the Riverside after making his own switch from another A-League side, Central Coast Mariners. The pair both made their first appearance in a Boro shirt during Saturday’s friendly draw at York City.

The Teessiders have a long association with Australia, with the likes of Mark Schwarzer, Mark Viduka, Luke Wilkshere, Rhys Williams, Tony Vidmar and Brad Jones all having represented the Socceroos while on Boro’s books, and McGree is delighted to be part of a group that is strengthening the link even further.

“It’s great,” said McGree, who is set to return to pre-season action when Boro visit the New York Stadium to take on fellow Championship side Rotherham United on Wednesday. “Any Aussie coming into the club is welcomed with open arms as far as I’m concerned, so having two is even better, especially when they’re of the level of the players we’ve signed.

“I know them previously – I’ve played against them and played with them. They can definitely add a lot, and it’s great with Boro having a strong connection with Aussies in the past that we’re able to keep that going. There are Aussie players that have done well here, and hopefully we can all continue to write that narrative and see what happens.”

Both Glover and Silvera were offered opportunities elsewhere, and McGree was heavily involved in the process of persuading them to move to Middlesbrough.

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The Boro midfielder had played with both players in the past, and was quick to get on the phone to spell out the appeal of a move to the Riverside.

His persuasive powers must have worked, and he has spent the last few weeks helping both Glover and Silvera settle into their new surrounds.

“I was definitely in touch with them, trying to make sure they came here to Boro,” said McGree. “I should probably have a seat up there in the office to be honest, getting a fee from their transfers!

“I was definitely in contact, and was trying to help them out in any way that they needed, without trying to push them too much one way or another.”

In total, Boro have made six new signings so far this summer, with another three or four more deals likely before the transfer window closes at the end of next month. The need for a new centre-forward and left-back is obvious, with the Teessiders also understood to be keen to bring in a central midfielder to replace Alex Mowatt, who returned to West Brom at the end of his loan deal.

The core of last season’s side remains intact, something that was always going to be important given how much progress was made under Michael Carrick last term, and McGree feels Boro are in a strong position with the opening weekend of the Championship season now less than three weeks away.

“We’ve got a good core group of players, and that should hopefully give us some continuity from last season,” he said. “We’ve made some additions in certain areas, and the integration of those players has gone smooth enough so far.

“I’m sure we’ll continue to do that. It’s good fun, and enjoyable playing in this style, and I’m sure the players that are coming in are going to see that. It should be smooth sailing for them.”