Middlesbrough star Riley McGree has reportedly been ruled out of the World Cup finals.

Middlesbrough star Riley McGree has reportedly suffered further heartache just days after Saturday’s Championship play-off final defeat against Hull City.

The former Birmingham City star has played a key role in Boro’s Premier League promotion push this season after scoring six goals and providing three assists in 28 games in all competitions during the campaign. He was handed a start in the Wembley showdown with Hull - but forced out of the action with just over quarter of an hour remaining and was replaced by Sontje Hansen after picking up a hamstring injury.

Australia international McGree admitted he would have to wait and see whether the severity of the injury would rule him out of the World Cup finals this summer as he prepared to undergo scans - and BeIN Sports have now reported the Boro star has been ruled out of the tournament as the Socceroos prepare to face Turkey, Paraguay and co-hosts United States in the group stages.

As it stands, Sontje Hansen is the only Boro star set to feature at the finals in North America after he was named in the Curacao squad earlier this month. However, Australia could yet name Sammy Silvera in their squad and Alfie Jones has been selected in Canada’s 32-man training squad that will be trimmed to a final selection of 26 players next week. One Boro star that will not be featuring in North America is Aidan Morris after he missed out on a place in the United States squad.

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