How Paddy McNair convinced Neil Warnock NOT to sell him after Newcastle friendly

The Northern Ireland international has been excellent for the Teessiders at the start of this campaign, impressing in a back three where he can dribble the ball out of defence.

Yet Warnock wasn’t immediately convinced by McNair, who wasn’t at the forefront of the manager’s plans back in the summer.

“I thought about swapping him for another player at another club,” admitted Warnock when asked about McNair. “I thought I might have been able to get some money for him and bring somebody else in.

“When I saw him play against Newcastle in a pre-season friendly, wow, that blew my head in. It was only a friendly but I saw enough in that 90 minutes to know how I wanted him to play.”

McNair isn’t the only player who has impressed in Boro’s back three this season, with Anfernee Dijksteel seamlessly moving into a centre-back role.

Dael Fry has also looked back to his best in the heart of Boro’s backline and it’s no surprise the team’s defensive record has improved.

“I've always known how I want my players to play but at the same time not take any risks,” added Warnock.

“Paddy has grasped everything I've told him. I want him to go forward when he can and Dijksteel fill in, and I want Dijksteel to go forward when he can.

“He doesn't have the vision Paddy has got but he's got the pace to open up defences. The three of them are doing really well.

Boro’s defenders have given the side a solid backbone at the start of this campaign, yet Warnock has admitted he may have to make chances during a relentless fixture schedule

“They've all grown in stature in their own right,” added Warnock when discussing Boro’s back three.

“Dael in the centre has given Paddy the licence to do what he's good at. Dijksteel has given Dael the ability to do what he's good at.

“It's been great. We all know four games in 12 days, the chances are one will get a knock but it's been good to see how they've responded.

“Fortunately we have got wide players that we can change. We have to do that because they put a lot of work in.

“At the moment the midfield three are doing well, my decision at the moment is do I rest one of those or not.”

McNair and Saville have also been away on international duty with Northern Ireland and are set to do so again next month.

On McNair, Warnock added: "I looked at the Ireland games when he was away, I was onto the physio, ringing him up, is he alright? It was the same with Sav.

“We've got another four games then they've got three games in nine days or whatever it is.

“I do hope in the first game they've got they can get to the Euros, it's a fantastic achievement for a country like Northern Ireland.

“I hope they get there then they get a rest in the Nations League or whatever you call it.”

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