The striker has been a sensation at Parkhead, but he knows the English game too.
McDonald has scored 95 league goals in 220 appearances during his career, which has also included spells at Huddersfield, Bournemouth and MK Dons.
And he says he won't be thrown in at the deep end at Boro because he was one of a string of former Celtic players, including Barry Robson, Chris Killen and Stephen McManus, signed by Strachan during the January transfer window.
McDonald: "It's a new club, but I already have friends here, which is obviously a help for me to settle."