It’s fair to say that Middlesbrough midfielder Paddy McNair hasn’t had the best of times since arriving from Sunderland in the summer.
The £5m signing has not started a single league game in his favoured central midfield position and the January capture of former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel moved him further down the pecking order.
Some fans are frustrated that McNair hasn’t been used in his best position and want the 23-year-old to be given more time:
He's been played out of position at RWB most of the season.
He's an international footballer.
He's an ex Manchester united player, so must have skills.
He's still only a young lad.
If he hadn't been an ex Makem Boro fans wudda & shudda cut him a bit of slack.#patience #UTB— Peter Lee Rodgers (@OOTfirebobby) 20 February 2019
Looks quick especially when compared to the others we have in there. Strong, tall and glimpses of being decent on the ball. Some great crosses when he came on at Ipswich. I'm baffled our fans have written him off. Same happened with Howson
— Jonathan Hill (@jdhill81) 20 February 2019
Because he’s not a right back but a midfielder and one that scored goals for Sunderland never been given a chance in his best position
— Jon Cairns (@borojon) 20 February 2019
Because he's a victim of his own alleged 'versatility'. Came in after showing signs of being a goal-scoring midfielder. Now he's a £5m RB cover who's behind Howson in the RB pecking order. Woefully misused, God knows how good he actually is, maybe we'll see at some point.
— Liam Wilson (@wilsoncgp) 20 February 2019
Signed as midfielder to score 10-12 goals & been played right back in pulisball. No idea whether he is good enough or not ?♂️
— Craig Mendum (@mendi14) 20 February 2019
He's been treated pretty poorly by Pulis. Not privy to what goes on Monday to Friday, but to see so many other CMs arrive and jump straight ahead of him in the pecking order, to never be given a chance in his preferred position and to be shunted out to RWB, must be tough to take.
— Rob Scott (@RobSc0tt) 20 February 2019
Other supporters don’t think the Northern Irish international is good enough to play for Boro:
Gone in the summer…Guaranteed
— Mick Bow (@MikeyJamesBowe7) 20 February 2019
Bcos he isn’t good enough. Looks mediocre on the ball, doesn’t look like he knows what he’s going to do with the ball when he gets it and also very lightweight, got bullied when he came on against Danny graham
— Joe Sheekey (@joesheekeyy) 20 February 2019
Has about 12 ahead of him atm so can’t see him getting the chance anytime soon, he may well be off in the summer
— Craig Mendum (@mendi14) 20 February 2019
Alarm bells should have rang when Brighton refused to pay no more than £3m for him but to be fair to him he’s not been given a chance in his best position. Sure maddo was raving about him pre season.
— RIchard Box (@boxyboro) 20 February 2019
He wasn’t good enough …simple.
— smj (@ilesjv) 20 February 2019
McNair scored five goals in 16 appearances for Sunderland in central midfield last season, but this campaign, he has made the majority of his appearances as a wingback or a centre-half.
Whether the former Manchester United player will be given a run in his favoured role, it doesn’t seem too likely currently.
With Mikel, Lewis Wing, Johnny Howson, Mo Besic, George Saville and Adam Clayton all vying for places in the starting lineup, it’s looking like a tall order.