Middlesbrough legend Mark Schwarzer has shared his thoughts on current Boro players Riley McGree and Sammy Silvera.
Mark Schwarzer joined Middlesbrough from Bradford City and went on to cement himself as an undisputed club legend.
The goalkeeper made 438 appearances for Boro and was part of the team that won the club’s only trophy to date – the 2004 League Cup.
Schwarzer was also between the sticks as Middlesbrough reached their first and only European final in 2006, which they lost to Sevilla.
The 51-year-old is not the only Australian to enjoy success at the Riverside Stadium, however.
Brad Jones was Boro’s second-choice keeper behind Schwarzer and had a spell as their number one once he left in 2008.
Melbourne-born Mark Viduka also enjoyed a prolific spell on Teesside, scoring 42 goals in 101 games between 2004-2007.
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Schwarzer tips Riley McGree and Sammy Silvera for Premier League success
At present, Middlesbrough have three Australian players in their first-team squad.
Goalkeeper Tom Glover spent 2023/24 as the club’s number two behind Seny Dieng.
Midfielder Riley McGree has been at Boro since 2022 and winger Sammy Silvera made the move to England from Australia last summer.
Now, Schwarzer has shared his thoughts on McGree and Silvera, both of whom have featured for the Australia nation team.
Speaking on Jeff Stelling’s Football’s Greatest podcast, Schwarzer was asked which of his fellow countrymen he felt could be the next Premier League stars from the country, with the ex-keeper going on to namedrop McGree and Silvera.
He said: “Riley McGree is a really good player. I like him at Middlesbrough. I think he’s done really well there.
“He’s someone I think could make that step up, whether that’s at Middlesbrough or elsewhere. I think he’s done really, really well.
“Silvera is at Middlesbrough as well. He’s only just signed last summer and he’s done really well. He’s had a lot more game-time than probably maybe even he thought he would have got to begin with.
“He chipped in with some goals as well and is now very much involved with the national team. So, I’m excited to see where he goes because I think he’s really good.”
Riley McGree could be key to Middlesbrough Premier League return
McGree being signed by a Premier League side this summer is perhaps unlikely, even with just under 12 months left on his contract.
However, the 25-year-old could play a key role in Middlesbrough winning promotion from the Championship in 2024/25.
Boro finished fourth and eighth in the previous two campaigns and should be in the play-off mix come May.
McGree, meanwhile, will likely be needed out wide in 2024/25 as Michael Carrick is short of options on the left wing.
Delano Burgzorg is expected to be first choice in that position, but McGree has impressed on the flank before and could be used as a backup to the Dutchman.