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Danny Graham is Middlesbrough's loss
STEVE McCLAREN admits that the decision to offload Danny Graham at Middlesbrough five years ago to Carlisle United on a free transfer was a “difficult choice” for the club because of his clear potential.
Graham was sold by McClaren’s successor, Gareth Southgate, in July 2007 but the former England boss, who spent five years at Boro and nurtured the Swansea City striker, insists he can fully understand the reasoning behind the decision.
McClaren, now back as manager at FC Twente, handed Graham, 26, his first-team debut at the Riverside. He said: “At the time Boro had a lot of high-class strikers and I don’t think Graham got much of a look in.
“They had Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mark Viduka and Aiyegbeni Yakubu at the club so it was always going to be difficult for a young lad coming in.
“Young footballers have to learn their trade and they are much better at doing that in the team as opposed to sitting on a bench.
“In his case he went out, got himself some first-team football and has gone on from there. It’s fair to say he had plenty of ability, but at the time I can see why that decision was made, even though it would have been difficult.”
At the time Boro had a lot of high-class strikers and I don’t think Graham got much of a look in
Graham has been in superb form this season, scoring the winner on Sunday in a five-goal thriller against Arsenal.
McClaren added: “Danny always had an eye for goal, no doubt about it, and he scored a lot in the youth and reserves.”