McMahon upbeat despite Boro slump

McMahon has been ever-present since the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in December

Middlesbrough defender Tony McMahon feels the strong bond within the squad will help them climb away from trouble at the foot of the Premier League.

And McMahon is adamant the mood at the Riverside remains positive despite a run of nine league games without a win that has left them 16th in the table.

"We're all friends here and we all get on and we need that togetherness in the club," the 22-year-old told BBC Tees.

"If we can put a run of results together, we're looking up."

McMahon has played in each of Boro's last six games after regaining his place for the 1-1 draw with Arsenal on 13 December.

As captain of the youth team in 2004, he led the club to FA Youth Cup success against Aston Villa and made his debut the following season against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

However injuries meant that the Bishop Auckland born full-back slipped down the pecking order and he left for a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday at the start of the current campaign to gain fitness and regular football.

McMahon has nothing but gratitude for the staff at Hillsborough for helping revive his first team opportunities on Teesside and restore the interest of manager Gareth Southgate.

"At the start of the season I wasn't involved and I had to go to and play my football at Sheffield Wednesday, and I'm grateful to the manager there Brian Laws and his assistant Russ Wilcox who gave me an opportunity to go and play again ," he explained.

"I always said that I wanted to come back here, and prove to myself and those that doubted me that I could play in the Premier League.

"I want to do my talking on the field, and that's where I give my answers, that's where I'm judged on a Saturday, and hopefully those performances I have given have answered a few questions."

McMahon signed professional terms with Boro in August 2004 following the club's youth cup success, and has made 30 appearances.