McDonald, 26, has begun the new English season in bright fashion with second tier club Middlesbrough, scoring two goals in two games.

The Melbourne-born striker's start to life at Boro wasn't so smooth after his January switch from Celtic, as he scored once in his first seven appearances for the club as he recovered from groin surgery.

But McDonald finished the campaign on a high with three goals in six games, although it wasn't enough to warrant selection in Australia's final 2010 World Cup squad.

Now, though, after a solid pre-season, McDonald is feeling good.

"I'm fully fit now," McDonald told the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette.

"Last year I was never quite right and wasn't happy with my form. Now I'm raring to go."

The former Celtic man was brought to Boro by his ex-mentor in Glasgow, Gordon Strachan.

The Scottish boss has also acquired the services of several ex-SPL stars, including Rangers striker Kris Boyd who McDonald has challenged to renew old rivalries on the goalscoring charts.

"I'm well ahead already," McDonald laughed.

"It's down to Kris to catch me now and I'll be trying to make it hard for him.

"Knowing Kris he won't be happy. He'll be burning to beat me - and that's great.

"It is fantastic for Boro to have that kind of competition.

"If we are both up there in the scoring charts then it means the team is doing well."

Middlesbrough travel to Leicester City on Saturday in the Championship.