MIDDLESBROUGH'S Riley McGree has told of his "love" for Middlesbrough and the fans as the midfielder enters the final year of his contract on Teesside.

McGree says he's approaching the coming campaign as he would any season despite the uncertainty over his future.

Boro have held talks with McGree's representatives and are keen to keep the Australian international but are understandably reluctant to budge from their current wage structure.

While McGree is a pivotal player for Boro, he only started 14 of the 46 Championship games in the most recent campaign because of injury setbacks.

The 25-year-old had surgery on a foot problem which ruled him out of the final weeks of the Championship game and has been forced him to miss this month's Australia World Cup qualifiers. The Socceroos beat Bangladesh yesterday and play Palestine next week.

McGree is in Australia now but is due to return to the UK later this month, with Boro's players set to report back for pre-season at the end of June.

Speaking to 7News Adelaide in his homeland, McGree said: "Every season is important. I'm going out there as I would any season, (whether that) be with Middlesbrough again or elsewhere.

"I have to say I love the club and the people there."

RECOMMENDED READING:

McGree scored four league goals and chipped in with two assists last season. He added two more goals and two more assists in the Carabao Cup.

The pick of his goals was his winner against former club Birmingham.

He might have a record for scoring stunners, but McGree said: "I'd love a tap-in. I'd love to be that type of player where I know where the ball is going to drop."

With McGree out injured, Finn Azaz played a lot of his football off the left side for Boro in the second half of the season. Boro are understood to be in the market for another versatile forward who can play at No.10 this summer, as well as a striker.