Leeds United's Stuart Dallas has claimed that Paddy McNair should play more for Middlesbrough, after playing alongside the 24-year-old for Northern Ireland.

McNair played the full 90 minutes of Northern Ireland's two latest wins over Estonia and Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying last week, scoring his first international goal to seal a 1-0 win over Belarus on Tuesday.

The midfielder, who moved to Middlesbrough from Sunderland last summer, started just seven league games for 'Boro during his debut campaign for the club, but Dallas, who came on as a 56th minute substitute in the win over Belarus, believes that his international teammate deserves more of a chance at club level.

Speaking about McNair following the two wins, the Leeds utility man was quoted by the Teeside Gazette as saying: “I’m delighted for Paddy. Paddy has been excellent.

“He’s had a tough season at Middlesbrough. He should be playing more regularly in my eyes but he’s proved what a really good player he is."

Assesing McNair's performances, Dallas was full of praise for the former Manchester United man, as he added: “He works hard, he’s fit and his running ability and how powerful he is are something else. You’d think the 90th minute was the first minute and it’s a credit to him.”

McNair's goal made it a record four straight wins at the start of a qualifying campaign for Northern Ireland, who sit top of their Euro 2020 qualifying group, although they still have a long way to go in their bid to reach the finals, with home and away meeting against both Germany and The Netherlands to come in the autumn.

The verdict

I can understand what Dallas is saying here.

Middlesbrough seemed to struggle to create openings in games at times last season, and McNair could have helped them to do that had he been used more, as he did for Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

With a new manager soon to be appointed at The Riverside, McNair could now get his chance to prove himself on a more regular basis for the club.