Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray feels Scott McDonald's return from injury will be a big boost for the promotion-chasing club.

The Australian striker made a 20-minute cameo as Boro held Brighton & Hove Albion to a 1-1 draw on Saturday, marking his first appearance since injuring a knee in early February.

The draw left the Teessiders in seventh position on the Championship table but Mowbray feels McDonald's comeback could help guide the club into promotion play-off territory by season's end.

"Hopefully there is a freshness about his play and we can utilise him. Whatever the scenario is, he has scored 10 goals this year," Mowbray told The Journal.

"He also offers an ability to press the ball from the front and has a great work ethic.

"Every manager wants players like Scott.

"Every top team has outspoken individuals. As a manager you should never grumble about players like Scott because on the days when a manager's voice does not have the impact it should, you need other members of the dressing room to be heard."

He added: "Scott has been great for us and hopefully he will add that ingredient until the end of the season. He is a hard-working lad. I have no fears that he will come back strong and ready.

"He has worked hard in running and physically. I've kept out of his way. I've let him get on with it." The game is about opinions. Make yours heard! Join the tribalfootball.com nation on Facebook today: Facebook.com/tribalfootball