McGree could be Celtic’s next wizard of Oz if Postecoglou proves persuasive
Birmingham loan star has caught the eye with Rogic-style passing, but there is plenty of interest
EVEN if you don’t remember hearing the name of Riley McGree before now, the chances are that you might have seen him play.
The Australian “went viral”, as they say, in 2018 as he scored an outrageous scorpion kick for Newcastle Jets against Melbourne City in the A League, with the video of the goal being viewed millions of times by football fans all over the world.
Mo Salah ultimately pipped him to the Puskas award for the year’s best goal, and since then, McGree’s career has not quite taken him to a level where he is again rubbing shoulders with such illustrious company.
That is not to say though that he hasn’t been doing well, and after a move to MLS expansion club Charlotte
FC, who immediately loaned him to Birmingham City for 18 months, he is catching the eye of various English Championship clubs as well as Celtic, who are in talks to sign him in this transfer window.
Ange Postecoglou is of course familiar with the 23-year-old from his time as the Australian national team coach, selecting him for a World Cup qualifier squad when he was just 18.
Postecoglou said at the time: “I thought he looked exciting from the moment he broke into the Adelaide team.
“I really like the way he has adjusted to playing in an unfamiliar position against some really good opponents.
“He has played Champions
League and A-League and he is just someone that I want to have a look at.
“Ultimately, as a young player coming into our league he has already made an impression.”
The forward-thinking midfielder’s impressive performances for a struggling City side this season have won admirers not only among scouts, but among the devastated Birmingham faithful who are resigned to losing one of the bright sparks of an otherwise dismal season for the Championship strugglers.
He had to show resilience
– a quality much admired by Postecoglou – when he first went to St Andrews in October 2020, as he struggled for gametime under then manager Aitor Karanka. His omission from the side at that time puzzled his team-mates, but after thriving under Lee Bowyer, the likes of defender George Friend have made it clear how much they wish he could stay at the club in the longer term.
“He has been great, hasn’t he? He is a very good player,” Friend said. “He has had a really tough time here because under Karanka he just didn’t play, even though every day in training he was arguably the best player.
“He has waited and he has got a great temperament and personality – and most of all he is a talented footballer, so I hope he can stay on some level.”
McGree broke through with his local side Adelaide United and soon attracted the attention of big clubs around
GRAHAM ALEXANDER has confirmed he will continue to play Tony Watt if the striker remains at Motherwell after the January transfer window closes – including against Dundee United.
Fir Park manager Alexander confirmed this month that Watt, the leading scorer in the cinch Premiership this season with nine goals, had signed a precontract agreement with the Tannadice club.
The former Scotland internationalist left the forward on the bench for the league meeting with Livingston on Boxing Day after it became public that he would be joining his side’s top-flight rivals in the summer.
However, he held talks with the former Celtic, Lierse, Standard Liege, Charlton Athletic, Blackburn Rovers, Hearts and St Johnstone player last week and is confident he will be fully committed to Motherwell’s cause if he is still in North Lanarkshire in the second half of the season.
“Tony had been off ill, but he was back in on Thursday morning and I had a 15 minute chat with him,” said Alexander.
“I had a conversation with him about why he’d been left out against Livingston after the news about his move to Dundee United – the timing of which has yet to be decided – became public knowledge.
“Tony’s assured me that he’ll crack on and be committed to Motherwell as long as he’s our player and that’s all I ask of anyone.
“All the players are at different stages of leaving the club – because they all do eventually, whether it’s next week, in six months or three years from now. But while they’re here I expect that commitment and I don’t anticipate anything different from Tony.
“I felt it was the right decision to take him out of the team for that one game because the story had just come out but, if he’s still here when we play Ross County on January 18, then he’ll be in contention.”
Motherwell are due to take on United, who are just six points behind them in the Premiership table, in a league game at Tannadice on February 9 and Alexander stressed that Watt will be in his starting line-up if he is fit and in form.
“There are always issues that can muddy the water and distract footballers but, ultimately, players want to train and play,” he said. “They’re paid to do that so, if Tony is still with us when we play United, I’d have no qualms whatsoever about picking him.
“That [freezing players out] is not my way. I saw that happen when I was a player and always thought it was completely unnecessary unless the person involved had been completely out of order.
“I didn’t see any point in it. I think you have to treat players as adults and, to be fair to Tony, he came to me to let me know that this was happening before anyone else knew anything about it.
“I’m pretty experienced and I can notice when players have become distracted or unmotivated but, as long as they show the right signs, I’d never cold-shoulder anyone.”
Alexander believes that
Watt, who could join United if the Tayside club table a bid that Motherwell deem acceptable this month, will be determined to remain at the top of the Premiership scoring charts in the second half of the season regardless of where he is playing his football.
“I believe that Tony’s at an age and a stage in his career where he has the experience to be able to put all that to one side and concentrate on doing his job,” he said. “I think he wants to finish the season as the league’s highest goalscorer and that is still there for him, whether it’s with us or someone else.
“As I say to my players, I want them all to do well. I don’t take anything personally if they want to leave. Every man has a right to make his choices in life and then stand by them.”
Watt has played for no fewer than nine clubs in the last seven years and has spoken in the past about his happiness at Motherwell and his desire to settle. But Alexander can appreciate the reasons behind his decision.
“I understand the contract he will sign is worth considerably more that we could offer,” he said. “That’s the scenario.
“I’ve been there as a professional myself and you have to marry your professional ambitions and your love for your job and your club with providing for your family and your future. That decision can change as you get older and understand life and your career.
“You only get one career and you want to finish it by playing loads of games, scoring loads of goals and winning things.”