This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Fan Perspective’ series, this content strand is where we deliver an opinion-based outlook from the perspective of a certain club's fanbase on the matter at hand…

Middlesbrough midfielder Paddy McNair has been a shining light in an otherwise dark season so far for the fans on Teesside.

This summer saw the appointment of local hero Jonathan Woodgate as the new manager. Since then, the side has really struggled to get going in the Championship, as they sit in 20th position and two points above the relegation zone.

Many fans are failing to see the impact so far of new-man Woodgate, with the team struggling at both ends of the pitch, with only 11 goals scored and 16 conceded putting them low in the charts for both aspects. 

One player who has shown consistency throughout his time at Middlesbrough is Northern Ireland international, Paddy McNair, who signed for the Teesside club from local rivals Sunderland back in the summer of 2018.

McNair has evolved his position gradually over his career, having first started out a youth-player at Manchester United as a centre-back, he signed for Sunderland playing as a holding-midfielder, before Middlesbrough where he has pushed into a more box-to-box role on either side of their holding-midfielder.

Despite learning his trade in youth as a defender, McNair has shown he has an eye for goal, scoring seven goals in 43 Championship appearances. The Northern Irish international has demonstrated great quality at both ends of the pitch this season for Boro, scoring two this campaign whilst being an ever-present under Woodgate.

With another impressive spell away with his country on international duty, McNair will be giving fans a taste of what they can look forward as Boro look to finally get going this season in the league. Northern Ireland faced tough fixtures this week, with away tests against Holland (European qualifier) and the Czech Republic (friendly). McNair’s side were very impressive in both games unlucky not to win both, as they unluckily fell to a late defeat against Holland having led going into the last 10 minutes.

McNair’s impact was much more obvious in Northern Ireland’s win away in Prague, scoring twice from central midfield to put his country 3-0 and virtually out of sight.

McNair will be expected to continue his strong international form and translate it into Middlesbrough colours in the coming weeks. Fans, on the other hand, will be hoping that his form can turn around the side’s form. Middlesbrough cannot be written off from achieving anything yet and fans will be hoping that McNair’s international exploits can kick-start a run of form in the North-east to see them shoot up the table and begin to look the side they have the potential to be.