Hearts exile McGhee hits new heights in the south
HAD a prize been awarded for the strangest transfer out of Scotland last summer then Jordan McGhee would have been celebrating a clear win.
Having fallen out of favour at Hearts, the young defender moved on loan to Middlesbrough where he has quietly set about repairing his confidence and improving his game in the English Premier League club’s Under-23 side.
In a week when the SFA’s new performance director Malky Mackay delivered a withering critique of the attitude and application of Scotland’s current generation of Under-21 players, McGhee offered some compelling evidence that not all of our young players deserve to be branded needy or sensitive.
The sight of the 20-year-old clearing out both an Estonian opponent and his own skipper Liam Henderson as he rose to head clear in Tuesday night’s Under-21 friendly international offered a blunt example of how he has addressed the aerial weakness in his game.
Afterwards, he was much more polite in speaking of the sacrifices he has made, how he believes he has improved as a central defender and his belief that the transfer will be made permanent this summer.
‘At Hearts I felt a little bit as if I had to get out,’ stated McGhee. ‘I was in a position where I needed to try to play games regularly and the option came up to play for Middlesbrough 23s.
‘It was a big decision to move to England. I knew I was going to be taking a step back from firstteam football but I also knew I’d be working on a side of my game I couldn’t really in Scotland.
‘It’s only two or three hours away but I’ve been apart from my family. I’ve been living on my own, cooking for myself and I’ve grown a lot. It has helped me no end.’
McGhee has been captaining Boro’s Under-23s, proving his leadership skills while ironing out the flaws in his game.
Former Hearts coach Robbie Neilson claimed McGhee lacked the inches to make it at the top
level in England, a comment that came not long after Ipswich Town had failed with a £250,000 bid for the stopper.
While hardly short at just over 6ft, McGhee concedes he did indeed need to improve in the air but felt his efforts were hindered by a lack of action in his favoured role.
‘That was part of the decision,’ he admitted.
‘I felt capable of commanding a position at Hearts but I just didn’t get a chance. I wasn’t quite a jersey filler but I had been right-back, left-back and just felt I was there filling in for others. ‘I would play three games, do well and then get dropped. Be out for two, then back in for one. I found it hard to get consistency. ‘To come down to Boro and play every week to a really good standard was ideal. Training with the Middlesbrough first team has been massive for me, too. ‘Jordan Rhodes was there earlier in the season and the last few weeks it’s been Alvaro Negredo and Adama Traore. It’s been great just being around these big names and seeing how they handle their lives at the top of the game.’ Although he has yet to play a minute for the Boro first team, McGhee believes the transfer has allowed him to hone his game in a way that would have been impossible in the SPFL Premiership. ‘I’ve been speaking to the coaches and assistant manager and they have been delighted with my attitude, my application and how I have played in the games,’ he continued. ‘We’ve changed manager but that has been a positive for me. Steve Agnew has come in and he wants young boys to be involved in training and with the squad.’ There has, of course, also been a change in the dugout at Hearts, with Neilson departing for MK Dons last November. Ian Cathro was quickly appointed by director of football Craig Levein but it’s revealing that not until midweek had there been any contact between the new head coach and McGhee.
‘Ian Cathro actually texted me on Monday night to try to get a catch-up,’ said McGhee after the 0-0 draw with Estonia. ‘That’s the first contact he has made but I keep in touch with all the boys, so they tell me exactly what is going on about the place.
‘They’re going through a tough time now but I’m sure they’ll
bounce back.’
I’ve grown a lot and it has helped me no end moving to England
Regardless, McGhee seems set on completing a transfer in the summer but if the deal is processed as planned, he will be happy to see his parent club compensated.
‘I signed an extension before I went down, so I’m contracted at Hearts until next Christmas to cover them for compensation,’ he explained. ‘They have agreed a fee with Middlesbrough and I have been delighted with my experience so far.’
Selected alongside Celtic’s Jamie McCart for new coach Scot Gemmill’s first home game in charge last Tuesday, McGhee is set for his third Euro campaign with the Under-21s.
‘I came in at a young age myself, so I know what it’s like but Jamie didn’t put a foot wrong,’ added McGhee.
‘I had experienced players like Ryan Jack to help me so, if I can help in that way, I’m happy.
‘I’m only 20 but even at Hearts people are still surprised when they realise my age. I made my debut at 16, so I’ve been around for quite a long time.’