Robson has hit five goals in his last seven games to announce his Boro career in fine style while McDonald opened his account in last weekend's Tees-Tyne encounter.
Since quitting the Glasgow club Robson has questioned Mowbray's plans to dismantle the squad that Gordon Strachan had built at Celtic Park while McDonald admitted he'd grown tired of not playing the full 90 minutes.
The Bhoys boss refused to enter into a slanging match with his former charges.
He said: I had a very good working relationship with Barry Robson when he was here. Barry was injured for most of the time yet when he got himself fit he did very well. The offer came along both for Barry and for our football club and we thought it was the right thing to do.
I am not sure Barry totally has his eye on what is happening here. I am quite sure that some journalist, probably from Scotland, went down there and asked him a leading question and he answered it.
No-one is going to put a wedge between me and a lad that I got on very well with. I wish him well in his career.
Mowbray also dismissed McDonald's parting shot, saying: The bottom line is that it's not worth commenting on, is it, really It is just an explayer who thinks that something might happen. I am not interested in what an ex-player thinks may happen. With all due respect, it doesn't matter what a player thinks.
McDonald is concerned that unless Strachan's side can start a run of consecutive victories, starting this afternoon against in-form Reading, they will miss out on the play-offs.
It was nice to get off the mark against Newcastle, it's just a pity we didn't come away with three points, he said. That's something we're saying too often recently.
Reading are the form team but we need to win. It really needs to start happening now because time is running out to get into the top six.
I'm just delighted to be back playing. I'm training as full on as everyone else. I'm happy to be playing a full part in things. I was sick of hanging around like a spare part.
The Australia international striker is expected to continue his partnership with Chris Killen but Strachan faces a selection problem in midfield.
Julio Arca was forced to miss training this week after reporting a sore toe, Jonathan Franks will be given a fitness test while Rhys Williams serves a one-match ban.
Kyle Naughton is also a doubt after being replaced on Tuesday night by Justin Hoyte, who is on standby to start at right-back.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo