Rhys Williams backs Socceroo mate Scott McDonald

SOCCEROO Rhys Williams has backed his club and country team-mate Scott McDonald to find his range for Australia and open his international goalscoring account.

A regular scorer at club level – including a nine-goal haul for Middlesbrough last season – McDonald has failed to find the back of the net in his national colours in 25 appearances.

However, Williams, who was recently given the captain’s armband for Middlesbrough’s upcoming English Championship campaign, still believes the former Motherwell and Celtic striker – who scored a total of 109 goals for his two Scottish clubs – has plenty to offer Australia.

“He’s a brilliant player. I think once he gets that monkey off his back he’ll start putting them in the net all the time. He’s that type of player,” Williams said of his Boro clubmate, who is itching to get off the mark for his country when he faces Craig Leveins’ Scotland side at Easter Road tomorrow evening.

“I think he’s down a lot on confidence and that first goal, when it comes, will be massive for him and also the country.

“I just hope that he can get that goal. I know he’s capable of it and he’s such a good player that I’m surprised it hasn’t come a lot sooner.”