Middlesbrough’s hugely impressive turn around in form in recent weeks has coincided with the inclusion of a player who faced criticism earlier in the season and was even tipped to leave the club.
Experienced defender Paddy McNair was the subject of intense transfer speculation in the summer, but Michael Carrick has always maintained that he is contracted to the club and is a Boro player.
That showing of trust and belief in the capabilities of the man from Northern Ireland now seems to be reaping the rewards as the versatile centre-back has enjoyed a run of four starts in the side, with the team-coincidently or otherwise-recording four wins and and three clean sheets in the process. Boro had not recorded a clean sheet before the 2-0 win against Cardiff, and they have subsequently chalked up another two against Bradford City (Carabao Cup) and Sunderland. McNair started all three of those games.
He looks to be at home with his former centre-back partner Dael Fry and has turned in some commanding performances at the heart of that back-line. As Boro start to find their scoring boots at the other end, his efforts may have gone under the radar, but his impressive yet understated displays must be pleasing for Michael Carrick.
Tough start this season
It hasn’t all been plain sailing this season for McNair, who was utilised sparingly as a makeshift right-back as Boro struggled with injuries early in the Championship campaign. Mistakes were made and he was under fire as Carrick’s side struggled in both full-back areas and were being dominated by opposing team’s wide attacking players.
All this was happening whilst rumours circulated about potential interest from Premier League new boys Luton Town. It is testament to McNair’s professionalism that it never affected his application and commitment.
Ever the consumate professional, McNair always gives everything in whatever role he is selected, but he is not a specialist right-back, and one or two mistakes, namely one against Millwall that led to goal, saw him lose his place at right-back.
Seized his opportunity
With Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan the preferred options in the centre of defence, added to the arrival of highly rated Dutch central defender Rav van den Berg, meant that McNair looked to be surplus to requirements at The Riverside. However, Lenihan’s absence due to illness and van den Berg who has covered at right-back but is now carrying an injury, means that the 28-year-old has had the opportunity to step forward.
He has done himself no harm at all, in seizing that chance. During the last international break, he was out of the Boro side and had to endure two defeats playing for Northern Ireland against Slovenia and Kazakhstan. After reclaiming his place, and following the last four victories for Boro against Southampton, Cardiff, Bradford and the four-nil battering of neighbours Sunderland, surely will go into this two-week international break in a much better frame of mind.
There is no denying that Boro’s form has come about as a result of the whole team functioning better as a unit, but Paddy has certainly played his part in that transformation and in this kind of form, Boro’s head coach will struggle to drop him.