Riley McGree Aims for Momentum with Middlesbrough FC

Riley McGree reflects on Middlesbrough FC's recent victories and the importance of maintaining momentum as they approach upcoming matches in the Championship.

When Riley McGree returns to Boro after the international break, the midfielder will have one thing on his mind - momentum.

Middlesbrough FC went into the stoppage on a high after two victories over QPR and Luton, with Michael Carrick's side now just three points behind fourth-placed Burnley. McGree wants those two victories to be the start of a winning run that will make the rest of the Championship envious.

Boro will head to Oxford United after the international break, followed by home games against Blackburn and Hull City - three teams currently in the bottom eight of the Championship form table. Carrick and his players won’t take any game for granted but are desperate to use last week’s successes as a springboard.

“Definitely, we have to start stringing more wins together,” said McGree. “Consistency to win more games is what we’re all here for. We’re playing some really good football at the moment and I think the more consistently we play that good football and things start clicking, hopefully, it’s only a matter of time before we start to get where we want to be and where we need to be.”

McGree was rested for the weekend win over Luton Town, but his importance to Boro has been clear in the early months of the season. Boro have only lost one of the seven games McGree has started. The 26-year-old is delighted to have put last season's injury frustrations behind him.

“I’m loving playing football again. Football is my life. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it. Day in, day out, week in and week out, I’m just really grateful to be out there doing what I love,” he said.

Currently, McGree is with the Australia squad for World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and will be closely assessed upon his return at the end of next week before head coach Carrick makes a decision on his team for Oxford. McGree was named on the bench after the October international break.

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As reported by The Northern Echo, while the current stoppage came at a bad time for Boro, the break was welcomed by Oxford boss Des Buckingham, who felt his side was in need of a breather.