'He's the best I've ever seen': Neil Warnock heaps praise on Middlesbrough defender who is tipped to play in Europe

The Northern Ireland international has produced his best performances in a Boro shirt this campaign, after moving into a central defender’s role during pre-season

McNair, who came through the academy at Manchester United, joined Boro from Sunderland in 2018 but wasn’t a regular starter in his first season at the Riverside under Tony Pulis.

Yet the 25-year-old has repeatedly earned praise from Warnock after impressing the Boro boss during a friendly against Plymouth in August, when McNair was moved to centre-half.

Warnock has worked with several talented footballers during his managerial career, such as Victor Moses at Crystal Palace and Adel Taarabt at QPR, but says McNair is right up there.

“I can't think of one better, I can't,” said Warnock when asked how McNair compares to his former players. “I keep thinking.

“I've had goalscorers, Taarabt and Moses and people like that, individuals who can do a bit of magic.

“But as a player, as a pro, as a person, I've never had a better specimen than this. He'll get better than this.

“I'll be surprised in the next two or three years if he's not playing in Europe at the top. He's the best I've ever seen.”

When asked if he sees McNair as a central defender, Warnock replied: “Without a shadow of a doubt, he thinks he's a midfield player but he's an average midfield player and an excellent centre-half.”

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