A striker who does get goals

Feb 9 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

AS the fourth most expensive signing of the last transfer window and a centre-forward to boot it should perhaps go without saying, but Gordon Strachan has promised new man Scott McDonald comes with a goals guarantee.

The Australian international is hoping to make his delayed Middlesbrough debut at home to Barnsley in the Championship tonight.

That hard-up Boro spent £3m on the striker – 10% of the total amount spent by all English clubs in the window – was a massive vote of confidence in McDonald. In an era where the stock of non-scoring strikers is rising, Strachan is certain his will deliver.

“He is a striker who scores,” said Strachan of his former Celtic frontman. “I have come to realise in the last year there are people out there calling themselves strikers without striking.

“If you look at his record he lives up to what he is called.

“He is a striker who scores in big games. At Motherwell he scored goals against Celtic and Rangers.

“When he played in the Champions League he scored against AC Milan, Manchester United and Shakhtar Donetsk, and he scored in Old Firm games. With his record he has the right to be called a striker.”

McDonald was unable to make his debut at Ipswich Town on Saturday after a reaction to hernia surgery. A decision will be made today, but he is expected to be involved at some stage against the Tykes.

In addition to his Champions League exploits, the 26-year-old bagged 51 goals in 88 Scottish Premier League appearances for Celtic.

All seven of Boro’s winter signings have played north of the border – all but former Gretna defender Kyle Naughton came direct from Scotland – but Strachan has no concerns about them adjusting to English football.

Strachan, who moved from Aberdeen to Manchester United in 1984, added: “Players like Blackpool’s Charlie Adam are coming down here and it is no problem for them.

“There are 70-odd players who have played in the Scottish Premiership now playing in the Championship.

“Cardiff have five or six and they have been very good this season.”

The seven arrivals were balanced out by five departures, the most high-profile being Adam Johnson’s to Manchester City.

Unsurprisingly, the manager thinks his side are better off for his wheeling and dealing.

He said: “I hope we can become a more rounded team. We can not build a team around one man. That has been proved before.

“You can not rely on one man to win you games all the time.

“It is not fair and it is the same with Scott McDonald. Because if that one man is injured, suspended or lost a bit of form there is no point in us turning up.”

Unbeaten in their last four, Boro have hauled themselves into the top ten.

Defenders Chris Riggott and Emanuel Pogatetz are back in light training after hamstring problems.

Jérémie Aliadière (ankle), Rhys Williams (pelvis), Seb Hines (ankle and knee ligament) and Matthew Bates (cruciate ligament) are missing.

Strachan has also decided to take former Sunderland player Julio Arca out of the firing line to recover from a foot injury.