Former Middlesbrough star Neil Maddison thinks Garry Monk and the Boro players will soak up and enjoy the fiery reception when they take on Leeds United on Sunday.
Monk, who was in charge of Leeds last season, left the Yorkshire giants in the summer as he was unconvinced about new owner Andrea Radrizzani's commitment to him.
The Whites narrowly missed out on a playoff spot under Monk, who was appointed by Middlesbrough as their new manager in June, in the 2016/17 campaign.
Boro presently find themselves in fifth spot in the Championship with 26 points from 16 games, five places and three points ahead of Leeds.
With Monk set to return to his former stomping ground at the weekend, Maddison is expecting the former Swansea City boss to receive a fiery reception at Elland Road.
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However, Maddison feels Monk and the Middlesbrough players will relish playing in the vociferous atmosphere at Leeds.
“Garry is probably going to get a fiery reception but I’m sure we’ll soak it up and enjoy it”, Maddison wrote in his column on Boro’s official site.
“I think the manager will, of course, play it down and say that it’s just another game that we’ll try and win.
“Leeds are going through a rocky patch but they started so well.
“They’re still a good side, though, and it’s always a hard place to go to.
“I think the players have a massive responsibility.
“As a player going back to your old club you want to do well and it will be exactly the same for the manager.
“Garry knows what sort of team they have and they have got some very good players.
“On their day they can hurt people.
“The players have a bit of responsibility because they know it’s a big game for the football club.
“If I was playing I’d want to do well and have our manager come away from there thinking ‘job done.’”
While Leeds have lost seven of their last ten Championship outings, Middlesbrough will head into the game on Sunday on the back of a three-game winning run in the league.
