Riley McGree made his first Middlesbrough start since August 10 and made an impact with an assist and an 8/10 performance in their 2-0 home win over Stoke City.
McGree started and played 76 minutes in the win, which earned him an excellent rating from Teesside Live.
The Socceroo’s right-foot curling effort led to the opening goal, with the goalkeeper parrying his shot into Ben Doak’s path to score.
McGree got the assist for the second, helping tip the ball away from an opponent before Hayden Hackney raced clear for a fine solo goal in the 73rd minute.
Teesside Live wrote: “Back from injury and making an incredible difference for Boro.
“His return to that left-sided forward role that he made his own at the start of Carrick’s reign, McGree provided the team with a lot more balance, while his off-ball movement and ability on the ball in intricate spaces gave Boro a much better outlet up top.
“His effort ultimately provided Doak with the opportunity to score Boro’s first either, proving sometimes you don’t always have to score the perfect goal.”
Elsewhere in the English Championship, Jacob Farrell made his Portsmouth debut in a 0-0 draw with Harry Souttar’s Sheffield United.
Farrell played the full 90 minutes, while Sam Silvera also started but was replaced on the hour.
Portsmouth News rated Farrell 6/10 and wrote: “A baptism of fire up against Rak-Sakyi for his debut and given a tough time in the first half especially. Settled down a bit after the break and would have been relieved to see the winger substituted on 63 mins. Had chance to win it in 90th minute, but headed Pack’s corner over.”
Silvera was also rated 6/10: “As ever showed glimpses, but it still hasn’t clicked for him at Pompey. Needs to find that consistency as clearly talent.”
Kusini Yengi was absent for Pompey with a groin injury. Souttar received a 7/10 rating from the Sheffield Star, who wrote: “As solid as ever at the heart of defence and a threat at the other end too as United sought him with deep corners for him to head back across goal.
“A decisive touch on a cut-back cross prevented what could have been a winner for the home side.”
On Sunday in the Premier League, Massimo Luongo made a late cameo as a 91st minute substitute in Ipswich Town’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. Joe Gauci was an unused sub for the Villans.
In France’s Ligue 1 on Sunday, Denis Genreau also got a brief appearance, coming on in the 93rd minute for Toulouse in a 2-1 loss to Olympique Lyon who netted the winner in the 95th minute.
In Italy’s Serie A on Sunday, Mat Ryan was unused as back-up goalkeeper in AS Roma’s 2-1 victory over Venezia.
In the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday, Max Balard put in a full shift in NAC Breda’s 1-0 defeat away to FC Twente.
In Germany’s Bundesliga on Saturday, Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe both played their part as St Pauli claimed their first win of the campaign, 3-0 away to SC Freiburg.
Irvine got the assist for St Pauli’s third goal, albeit playing it forward for Elias Saad who did all the work. Irvine put in a full shift and Connor Metcalfe was a half-time sub.
Kye Rowles and Cammy Devlin both were rated 6/10 for displays in Hearts’ 1-1 draw with Josh Nisbet’s Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
Rowles put in a full shift and Edinburgh Evening News wrote: “Dealt with the giant Jordan White pretty well overall.”
Devlin started and played 58 minutes. Edinburgh Evening News wrote: “Competitive approach and tried to chase everything in his vicinity before going off.” Nisbet put in a full shift for Ross County.
Martin Boyle missed Hibernian’s 1-0 loss away to Rangers on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership due to a hand injury.
Milos Degenek was back in the Red Star Belgrade matchday squad for the first time this year following a heel injury. He went unused as Red Star won 2-1 over Zeleznicar in Serbia’s top flight.
Goalkeeper Jacob Chapman got a rare start and earned a 6/10 rating in Huddersfield’s 2-1 loss to Reading in League One.
Fan site We Are Terriers wrote: “Swapped in at the last moment after Lee Nicholls had to pull out in the warm-up. Had to come out of his box to cut out dangerous balls a couple of times. Little chance of stopping Harvey Knibb’s opener and seemed to see Ben Elliott’s strike late through a crowded box.”
Others
Full games
Gianni Stensness (Viking), Lewis Miller (Hibernian), Aiden O’Neill (Standard Liege), Jordan Bos (Westerlo), Paul Izzo (Randers), Alex Robertson (Cardiff City), Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata), Mitchell Langerak (Nagoya Grampus), Lachlan Jackson (Suwon)
Minutes
Nectar Triantis – ST 80 (Hibernian), Anthony Kalik – ST 77 (Hajduk Split), Mohamed Toure – SB 76 (Randers), Apostolos Stamatelopoulos – SB 71 (Motherwell), Keanu Baccus – ST 87 (Mansfield), Mitch Duke – SB 67 (Machida Zelvia), Peter Makrillos – SB 46 (Suwon Bluewings), Craig Goodwin – ST 78 (Al Wehda), Patrick Yazbek – SB 62 (Nashville), Brad Smith – SB 73 (Houston Dynamo)
Unused subs
Alex Gersbach (Kalmar), Jack Iredale (Hibernian), John Iredale (AaB), Ash Maynard-Brewer (Charlton), Caleb Watts (Exeter), Nicholas Bilokapic (Huddersfield), Jonathon Aspropotamitis (Pohang Steelers)
