Fit-again Middlesbrough midfielder Riley McGree is convinced that this season is the most significant of his career.
The 27-year-old missed the first nine matches of the Championship season due to a hamstring injury sustained during pre-season and has played just 39 league matches over the past two seasons amid various injuries.
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McGree, who joined from MLS team Charlotte in January 2022, made his second start in 11 months against his former club Birmingham on November 8, playing just over an hour in the 2-1 victory. He later came off the bench for Australia in a 1-0 friendly loss to Venezuela three days later.
In an interview with the Socceroos website, McGree expressed, “Before this season, I told myself that this is probably the biggest season in my career to date. While every season has its significance, this one stands out.”
He added, “I’m with a very ambitious club that’s in a strong position and has the potential to reach the Premier League by the end of the season. Plus, I hope to be a part of a World Cup soon.”
McGree is aware that his performances will face heightened scrutiny, but he views ‘pressure as a privilege’.
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“As I’m getting older—now at 27—I bring more experience, and there’s an added expectation from my teammates, the coaching staff, and the fans for me to perform well,” he noted. “I embrace that expectation and the pressure that comes with it because it’s a privilege. This year is crucial for me, and I aim to seize every opportunity that comes my way.”