Source: Northern_Echo
Strike-duo right at home on Teesside
GIVEN that Gordon Strachan has turned Middlesbrough upside down since his appointment three-and-a-half months ago, it is surely only fitting that his new-look strike force has its origins Down Under.[LNB] New Zealander Chris Killen and Australian Scott McDonald both arrived from Celtic during the January transfer window, and the Antipodean duo were united for the first time in Boro colours during Tuesday's 2-1 win over Barnsley.[LNB] They combined to produce Middlesbrough's most effective attacking display at the Riverside for a number of weeks, with Killen opening his account midway through the first half and McDonald catching the eye with a series of intelligent runs.[LNB] They are likely to line up alongside each other again when Boro play Peterborough on Saturday, and Killen is confident they will form a relationship that will be of benefit to both parties.[LNB] I obviously know Scott from our Celtic days and I think we can work together well, said the Wellingtonborn marksman. He's an intelligent footballer, and it's always nice to play alongside someone like that.[LNB] He's one of those players who seems to really come alive around the box. Give him the chance, and play the ball into him, and he'll score a lot of goals here. Hopefully, we can score a lot of goals together - that's certainly the plan.[LNB] Killen's plan is also to hold down a regular starting spot for the first time in three seasons.[LNB] The 28-year-old joined Celtic on a free transfer from Hibernian in May 2007, but made just four league starts in his two-and-a-half years at Parkhead.[LNB] Having impressed in a previous spell at Oldham Athletic, he admits he was starting to go stale in Scotland, and is hoping the move to Teesside is the kick start he needed to get his career back on track.[LNB] I haven't played regularly all season, so it's nice to be playing in the team and feeling like I'm building up a bit of momentum, he said. This is the first time I've been able to do that for a while, and I feel like I'm benefiting for it.[LNB] It's important to get some games under my belt, both in terms of my form for Middlesbrough, which is the most important thing, and also in terms of playing for New Zealand in the World Cup this summer. I'm back in the swing of things now and getting some game time under my belt.[LNB] Middlesbrough lost their only English World Cup aspirant when Adam Johnson joined Manchester City on transfer-deadline day, but the Championship side could yet be one of only a handful of English clubs boasting two strikers who will both be involved in South Africa.[LNB] McDonald boasts 15 Australia caps, and is expected to edge out former Boro striker Mark Viduka in the race to make the Socceroos squad that will compete in a group including Germany, Ghana and Serbia this summer.[LNB] Killen has made 29 senior appearances for New Zealand and, having played in last year's Confederations Cup, the former Manchester City trainee is likely to be a key figure in the All Whites squad that takes on Italy, Slovakia and Paraguay in South Africa.[LNB] The New Zealand thing was a major factor in me leaving Celtic, he said. I know I've got a big summer ahead of me, and to do myself justice in the World Cup, I need to be somewhere where I'm going to be playing games.[LNB] I'm thankful this opportunity has come up, but while I'm here it's more about me doing well for this club. I want to emphasise that.[LNB]
