Why Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock was pleased to see Liverpool sign Ben Davies from Preston on transfer deadline day

The Reds were desperate to sign another centre-back following several injuries and were forced to look at players in the Championship.

Only Watford and Swansea have conceded less goals than Boro in the second tier this season, with McNair and Fry regularly starting alongside each other at the back.

McNair was awarded Boro’s Player of the Year award for 2020 and took part in a Zoom Q&A session with the Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters Association this week.

The defender was joined by Marcus Tavernier, who was awarded Boro’s Young Player of the Year, while Warnock appeared as a surprise guest.

When asked about McNair and Tavernier, Warnock said: “For me Paddy could play at any level now, he could play in the top half of the Premier League.

“I think he knows now to forget about midfield because he’s just an average player in midfield but at the back he’s unbelievable.

“Tav has got a lot to learn but he is learning all the time, he frustrates a manager and can pick an argument with his shadow at times but other than that he’s learning all the time and he will improve.

“He gives us a lot more dynamics in the team when he’s there, occasionally he doesn’t turn up but not very often.“

Asked what the pair could improve, Warnock replied: “I don’t know how you could improve Paddy, the only thing you could do with Paddy is put him against your top Premier League clubs every week.

“Him and Dael have done remarkably well and I’ve seen Liverpool have signed a centre-half from Preston and I’m really pleased they have.

“I think Dael is better than anyone else in the league as well so we are very fortunate that we’re alright there.

“Tav is at an age now where he can improve, he knows he gets frustrated at times with little things, certain opponents, but I knew within a few minutes at Forest he was going to have a good game.

“With Tav it’s just in his head really about how far he can go.”

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