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Riley McGree insists he’s doing everything he possibly can to end his injury torment after two seasons of frustrating fitness issues. The forward was in a similar position last summer after
a frustrating 2023-24 campaign and was hoping this season he could put that behind him. But his injury troubles continued and the Australian international was only able to start 12 games in
all competitions. The persistent but varying injuries have been a frustration for everyone at Boro, with McGree still capable of being such an important player for Michael Carrick when fit.
But unable to have any consistency this term, he contributed only one goal all season, with Boro sending him to specialists towards the end of the campaign in the hope of identifying any
underlying issues. McGree was able to return to training towards the end of the season but didn’t end up making the bench for any of the final four games. Now though, with Australia’s
National Team taking part in a training camp in Abu Dhabi, the forward is hoping to prove his fitness to Soccerroos boss Tony Popovic for upcoming World Cup qualifiers and then firmly
putting his fitness hell behind him. Speaking from the Australia camp, McGree said: “It's obviously frustrating being out, not being able to do what I love. For me, the best part about
it is I can put my head to the pillow at night knowing that I'm doing everything I can to stay fit and be fit. So if I'm doing that, then that's all I can ask for, for myself
and everyone around me. “I've been working hard for a long time to try and get my body right, and it's starting to come good. So hopefully I can stay on top of it, and keep
progressing, and get to where I want to be. It feels great. It’s always an honour for me to come into camp. “It was just a matter of me getting to a place in my body where I'm fit
enough to be able to try and produce my best, and I'll put my best foot forward. Whether they [the coaching staff] see me fit, or if they don't see me fit, then that's the
decision they're going to make. I will give myself the best opportunity - and I'll give this team, and them, the best opportunity - to make that decision.” Australia’s current
training camp also includes Boro keeper Tom Glover but not any players who still have club fixtures to complete, with this camp outside the international window and clubs therefore not
obliged to release players for it. McGree and Glover will both be hoping to impress and earn their place in the actual 23-man squad named later this month/early next for the World Cup
qualifiers against Japan (June 5) and Saudi Arabia (June 10). Elsewhere, Hayden Hackney could miss a good chunk of pre-season this summer, with the Boro star named in the England under-21s
training squad ahead of this summer’s Euros. The Young Lions will head to Slovakia next month looking to defend their crown and boss Lee Carsley named Hackney alongside Samuel Iling-Junior
in his 29-man preliminary squad. Carsley will have to cut that to 23 on June 6, with England’s campaign getting under way on June 12. Hackney will be expected to make the final cut for the
tournament. Rav van den Berg will be hoping to make the Netherlands U21s squad too.