Middlesbrough have confirmed via their official website that defender Paddy McNair has had his three match ban overturned.
McNair was shown a straight red card in Middlesbrough’s recent victory over Huddersfield Town. With nine minutes of normal time to go, the Northern Ireland international went to ground in a challenge with Juninho Bacuna, for which he was given his marching orders by referee Jeremy Simpson.
The 25-year old has played every single minute for Boro so far this season up until last weekend, leaving his side to hang on to a 2-1 lead with just under 10 minutes left to play.
Manager Neil Warnock confirmed after the game that the club would be appealing the decision, to which the red card has now been rescinded after a hearing on Thursday afternoon.
A statement from the FA read:
‘An independent Regulatory Commission has removed Paddy McNair’s three-match suspension following a successful claim of wrongful dismissal.
‘The Middlesbrough FC defender was sent off for serious foul play during an EFL Championship game on Tuesday [16/2/21] against Huddersfield Town FC.’
McNair will now be at Warnock’s disposal for the upcoming visit to fifth-placed Reading this weekend, which will be welcome news to the Boro boss, his teammates and supporters alike.
He has been utilised in a less familiar centre-back role so far this campaign, but to good effect. Having been a goal-scoring midfielder during his time at Sunderland and for the national team, Warnock pushed McNair back into defence due to an injury crisis.
But with the simultaneous returns of defenders Grant Hall, Dael Fry and Anfernee Dijksteel, McNair could be utilised further forward in the weeks to come.
