WHEN Gordon Strachan convinced Scott McDonald to move to Middlesbrough, the £3.5m buy from Celtic thought he would have been spearheading a charge back to the Premier League.

Fourteen months and two failed attempts at a return to the top-flight later and McDonald finally feels like things are looking up at the Riverside Stadium - even if there has been a change of manager and further disappointments along the way.

The 27-year-old is among a group of players who does not know what the future holds for him on Teesside. Changes are expected, but he feels happier with his performances and thinks there is still more to come from him and the team.

Nine of his 13 goals for Boro have arrived this season; three in seven starts since returning from a month away with the Australia squad at the Asian Cup.

"It has been almost a full year of playing football now for me because I was not fully fit when I first arrived," said McDonald, who was recovering from hernia surgery when he moved from Celtic.

"This time last year I was talking about the World Cup and it has been frustrating all the way. I expect a lot from myself anyway and being away in January didn't really help my situation at Middlesbrough either.

"It's been stop, start, stop for me here. There are a lot more games to go and hopefully I can push on and get a few more goals to help us push up the table.

"The manager, Tony Mowbray, has been fine with me since he first came through the door. He has respect for everyone and I have enjoyed working under him, probably more than the last time at Celtic.

"You learn more about people the more you work with them and I think that helps. When you are playing you are always happier as well, when you are not you get frustrated."

Given the failings of the squad as a group in the last 18 months it is understandable to think that there have been angry words in the dressing room, but McDonald insists there has always been strong unity.

"The mood in the camp has always been good because we have a good group of players," he said. "There are times when things are said because everyone wants to win.

"We went through a difficult period at the start of this season when everyone wanted us to go on this great run. When things don't go to plan frustration builds, pressure builds. Sometimes it can be a difficult place to come to.

"But there can be no excuses, everyone has to be big enough to deal with it and when you lose your manager - like we did - you have to start again.

"By that time everyone was thinking we had to stay in this league, we had lost a lot of ground on the others and it was difficult to catch up. Hopefully we can make it more respectable because this club does not deserve to be where it is. "

McDonald helped Boro to a 2-1 win in their last outing against Watford, which helped increase the gap over the relegation zone to nine points.

With nine matches remaining that looks a healthy advantage and there is growing optimism within the dressing room after an improvement in the way the team has been playing in recent months.

"Generally we have had one or two bad performances, but the football has been good most of the time," said McDonald, hoping to extend a four-match unbeaten run against Leicester on Saturday.

"Last weekend we played exceptionally well and deserved the win. I don't know why it has taken so long. Players have got used to the manager and what he wants. We have found a better balance in the team.

"Consistency is the key word and that has been coming in performances, we just need to get the points. It was an important win for us building up to this break.

"We look dangerous when we go forward and that has been added. We have added an attacking edge. That was lacking earlier in the season. I hope that continues."

* Ben Gibson, Bruno Pilatos and Jake Fowler have been selected for England U18s for the international match in Italy on Tuesday, April 12. David Atkinson has been placed on standby.